Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Liberals Try To Put A Lid On Controversy Surrounding Two Trudeau Nannies

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Dec, 2015 02:39 PM
    OTTAWA — The Liberals are attempting to put a lid on concerns raised about two taxpayer-funded nannies who provide care for Justin Trudeau's three young children.
     
    Dogged with questions about the caregiver controversy, Kate Purchase, Trudeau's director of communications, released a statement Wednesday indicating the prime minister will adjust his staff complement to suit his family's needs.
     
    "The prime minister will not expand the household staff of the prime minister's residence," Purchase said. "It is an ongoing process and will be finalized in the coming days."
     
    This means the Trudeau caregivers are not additional full-time hires at the prime minister's residence — news that seems to have deflated some of the criticism.
     
    Aaron Wudrick, the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, says he doesn't think taxpayers need to be concerned if there is no additional cost.
     
    "If they're prepared to shift ... some of the other uses of the staff, to give that up in exchange for child care services so taxpayers are not out any additional money, I don't see that as a problem," Wudrick said.
     
    The nannies, considered special assistants under the Official Residences Act, have been hired for $15 to $20 an hour during the day and $11 to $13 at night — a fee nanny associations say reflects the average rate.
     
    Opposition parties have raised questions about why Canadians are footing the bill for Trudeau's child care after he hammered the previous Conservative government for handing out benefits, such as a new universal child-care benefit, to wealthy families, including his own.
     
    "Mr. Trudeau repeatedly, repeatedly said 'I am wealthy'," interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose told reporters following a caucus meeting Wednesday.
     
     
    NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said he was surprised the prime minister provided his family with child care as one of his "first official acts."
     
    "Mr. Trudeau campaigned against universal child care and said families like his didn't need help with child care," Mulcair said. "I would like all Canadian families to have affordable child care."
     
    Manuela Gruber Hersch, president of the Association of Caregiver and Nanny Agencies Canada, has indicated she believes there is a greater issue at play amidst the controversy.
     
    She says there is a shortage of nannies in Canada that became worse when the last government tightened the rules around temporary foreign workers.
     
    Gruber Hersch says the Conservatives basically shut down the foreign nanny program, while many Canadians are not interested in working as caregivers.
     
    It is unclear whether the women working for the Trudeau family originally came to Canada through the temporary foreign worker program.
     
    Purchase has said the nannies are both Canadian citizens who were born outside of the country but have been here for some time. She has not provided dates.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    'Black Widow' Denied Early Release By Parole Board Of Canada

    'Black Widow' Denied Early Release By Parole Board Of Canada
    MONCTON, N.B. — The Parole Board of Canada says an elderly woman known as the "Black Widow" who was convicted of spiking her newlywed husband’s coffee with tranquilizers has been denied an early release.

    'Black Widow' Denied Early Release By Parole Board Of Canada

    Elizabeth Fry Challenging Decision To Deny It Standing At Saskatchewan Inquest

    Elizabeth Fry Challenging Decision To Deny It Standing At Saskatchewan Inquest
    SASKATOON — A group that helps women in the justice system is challenging a decision by a Saskatchewan coroner to bar it from taking part in an inquest.

    Elizabeth Fry Challenging Decision To Deny It Standing At Saskatchewan Inquest

    Private Refugee Sponsoring Costly But Newcomers Better Off: Sponsor

    Private Refugee Sponsoring Costly But Newcomers Better Off: Sponsor
    MONTREAL — It was only because Feras Hariri stayed late at his in-laws' house that he and his family weren't killed by a Syrian government air strike that destroyed his home, says his brother Anas.

    Private Refugee Sponsoring Costly But Newcomers Better Off: Sponsor

    Remains Found Of Woman Missing More Than Five Years; Saskatoon Police Arrest Man

    Remains Found Of Woman Missing More Than Five Years; Saskatoon Police Arrest Man
    Police on Friday identified human remains found earlier this month as belonging to Karina Beth Ann Wolfe, who was 20 when she vanished in July 2010.

    Remains Found Of Woman Missing More Than Five Years; Saskatoon Police Arrest Man

    One Person Found Dead After Fire In Surrey Motorhome

    One Person Found Dead After Fire In Surrey Motorhome
    RCMP say they were called to the site of the fire around at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

    One Person Found Dead After Fire In Surrey Motorhome

    Watch: Narendra Modi Praises Jawaharlal Nehru, Previous Governments In Ambedkar Debate

    Watch: Narendra Modi Praises Jawaharlal Nehru, Previous Governments In Ambedkar Debate
    Ending two days of discussions in parliament on the 125th birth anniversary of Ambedkar, widely seen as the architect of the constitution, Modi reached out to the opposition while underlining the diverse nature of the country.

    Watch: Narendra Modi Praises Jawaharlal Nehru, Previous Governments In Ambedkar Debate