I think there is a complexity to this that is forgotten. Had this happened in Canada, one of the pillars of our laws is that ignorance of the law is no excuse. She took money, whether knowingly or not, does not matter. She broke the law and for this she was punished. It is distasteful how the Mexicans manager their system, but it was done in the bounds of their system and we are obliged to live with it.

No, Canadians should not have footed this bill, nor should she receive special treatment now that she has returned. I am disappointed in our government again missing the more serious impropriaties towards Canadians taking place today in Saudi Arabia & China in favour of this photo shoot.
George, 2008-05-07 23:21:53

She has played the Canadian people like a fine tuned fiedel, to the point she has conned us into getting the government involved in her show. We should of left her in Mexico to pay for her crimes there.

We are such suckers here in Canada!
David J, 2008-05-07 23:21:36

Its a lot of money but MPs spend more than that on shoe shines every day.
cheemo85, 2008-05-07 23:21:16

That is just ludicrous! 82K to fly home from Mexico! Why wasn't she just put aboard a commercial flight? I mean all we heard was how much Martin just wanted out of Mexico and to be sent home. Heck...if she was so adamant on this by threatening suicide that you'd think she would have been happy to ride home on a donkey! Actually if she would have been left to serve her sentence in Mexico...none of this nonsense would have happened. I for one am sick and tired of my tax money being frittered away on crap like this and on bureaucrats flying all over the planet staying in these posh hotels on the tax payer’s dole!
FRT, 2008-05-07 23:17:08

Doesn't surprise me really, we shell out $60K a year to house are hardened convicted criminals in minumum security resorts, hey whats another 80K for a first class trip home? I hope she was able to have a few complimentary beverages for that price. Can't blame her really, next time the government should think a little bit and send a bus ticket!
Ryan Y, 2008-05-07 23:08:53

If it was someone from any of your families you wouldn't be complaining if she's innocent or not. They waste 80G's on a lot worse.
Roy, 2008-05-07 23:07:24

And remember the first gov't leader who stood up , and demanded the gov't do something, S. Dion, yes the great liberals, and now everyone has egg on their face.
wally, 2008-05-07 23:04:54

I have never been so touched by a story involving an innocent Canadian citizen caught in a Human Rights nightmare. I think $80K to free a fellow Canadian whose spirit and mind have been stomped on by a pathetic foreign government is the least of the taxpayers worry. Haven't any of you people read Sheila Fraser's (Canada's Auditor General) reports over the last 7 years. Sheesh. Read a newspaper, the government is always wasteful with the taxpayers dollars and in my opinion for once they spent 'OUR' money on a worth cause. To my fellow citizen, Brenda Martin, may you recover fully and have a peaceful existance back here with your family & friends.
Vanessa, 2008-05-07 22:56:49

Absolutelyt crazy that they could not have brought her home on a commercial flight. I believe they should pay back the money.
Barry, 2008-05-07 22:55:21

Brenda Martin,s family should pay to have her return home.She was in jail for a criminal offence. I would not expect the government to pay for me if I was in jail for a criminal offence.
RALPH ENGELS, 2008-05-07 22:49:57