OTTAWA — The Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region has benefited from a disproportionate amount of political largesse doled out by Jean-Pierre Blackburn, the federal minister responsible for the area, documents suggest.

The documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act say that of 228 announcements made by Economic Development Canada for Quebec last year, nearly 20 per cent went to this part of the province, which has only four per cent of Quebec's inhabitants.

In his first year as minister, Blackburn participated in 75 announcements by Economic Development Canada, including 28 for the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region.

He made 147 speeches, including 33 in his riding or neighbouring constituencies.

No other region received so much attention from Blackburn.

For example, he made eight announcements in the Gaspe, six in Quebec City, five in the Eastern Townships and three on the island of Montreal.

The value of the announcements was not compiled but the number was sufficient to provoke the ire of the opposition in the Commons.

Liberal Pablo Rodriguez sees it as crass electioneering.

"Government announcements are definitely being used for partisan ends and it is totally unacceptable," Rodriguez said.

"The grants from Economic Development Canada were not to get him re-elected but to help our businesses, our workers and their families."

In an e-mail sent late Monday, Blackburn's press attache, Jean-Philippe Payment, said the minister has always respected the rules.

"He is proud to contribute to the economic development of every single Quebec region and he will continue to make announcements in his riding and everywhere in Quebec, even in the furthest flung villages."

Blackburn had no direct comments on his travel costs.

"All Quebecers, regardless of where they live, deserve the government's attention," the e-mail said.

NDP MP Pat Martin says it harks back to an "old style rum politics, to shower your own riding with government largesse and starve the rest of the regions."

"The Atlantic Canada and Quebec regions have been famous for this kind of abuse," said the Winnipeg MP.

When Parliament is in session, the announcement activities that include Blackburn have generally taken place Friday afternoon or Monday morning. This allows him to spend the weekend at home in Jonquiere and bill the appropriate agency for transport.

The Canadian Press reported this week that Blackburn has spent $68,000 in six months for 14 charter flights, half between Ottawa and his riding. All these flights were paid for by Economic Development Canada.

Rodriguez said everything is organized for Blackburn's convenience but to the detriment of taxpayers.

"I can understand that every so often there are announcements in his riding but this happens on a regular basis," Rodriguez said.

Martin compared Blackburn's style to those of cabinet ministers in the government of Brian Mulroney "where perhaps he thinks he's an emperor and not a cabinet minister."

He said he is concerned about "his attempt to hide and cover up his excess abuse of charter aircraft by putting them in the department's budget.

"In the name of transparency and full disclosure, we shouldn't have to hunt for this information."

Martin said he is surprised Blackburn has not been taken to task by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, especially since these practices have been raised before.

"I think this is contrary to the impression the prime minister was trying to paint of his new Conservative party."