American Express cardholders offered front-of-the-line deal at Jim Flaherty speaking event

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty may have taken fiscal responsibility in the federal government to a whole new level by partnering with American Express in a deal that allows credit-card holders a chance to buy tickets to one of his upcoming speaking engagements before anyone else.

American Express issued a press release Wednesday morning with the subject line: “The Honourable James M. Flaherty via Front Of The Line,” which announces that anyone with an American Express card can buy tickets to Flaherty’s Feb. 6 speaking event as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning “before the general public.”

While Flaherty might be a type of celebrity, at least in Ottawa, the deal seems to be a bit out of line with other American Express Front-of-the-Line deals, which include tickets to The New Kids on the Block, The Wizard of Oz and Bill Maher.

Also, the front-of-the-line deal doesn’t seem all that exclusive. Tickets to see Flaherty are available on the website for The Economic Club of Canada, which is hosting the event.

However Flaherty fans buy their tickets, they still have to pay. The lunch at The Westin costs $79, plus HST.