Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

    RCMP Seek 2 Men Who Allegedly Behaved Suspiciously Near Rogers Centre In August

    RCMP Seek 2 Men Who Allegedly Behaved Suspiciously Near Rogers Centre In August
    Supt. Lise Crouch says a passerby told private security about seeing the men on the John Street Bridge near the stadium in the afternoon of Aug. 31.

    RCMP Seek 2 Men Who Allegedly Behaved Suspiciously Near Rogers Centre In August

    Former Tory Cabinet Minister James Moore Named Chancellor At B.C. University

    Former Tory Cabinet Minister James Moore Named Chancellor At B.C. University
    Moore becomes the sixth chancellor at UNBC and will be sworn in during the convocation ceremony in Prince George next May.

    Former Tory Cabinet Minister James Moore Named Chancellor At B.C. University

    Alberta Politicians Laugh Through Tears Remembering Stories Of Manmeet Bhullar

    Alberta politicians laughed through their tears Wednesday as Progressive Conservative leader Ric McIver recounted stories about his colleague Manmeet Bhullar

    Alberta Politicians Laugh Through Tears Remembering Stories Of Manmeet Bhullar

    Aboriginals Far More Likely To Die Violently Than Other Canadians

    Aboriginals Far More Likely To Die Violently Than Other Canadians
    Overall, aboriginals accounted for 23 per cent of all homicide victims last year, even though they made up only five per cent of the population.

    Aboriginals Far More Likely To Die Violently Than Other Canadians

    Toronto Police Charge Math Tutor And Fiancee In Gang Rape Of Teenager

    Toronto Police Charge Math Tutor And Fiancee In Gang Rape Of Teenager
    Police allege that Kevin Chan, who has worked in various schools throughout the greater Toronto area, befriended the 14-year-old victim over several years.

    Toronto Police Charge Math Tutor And Fiancee In Gang Rape Of Teenager

    RCMP Boss Bob Paulson Wants Warrantless Access To Online Subscriber Information

    OTTAWA — RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson says the police force needs warrantless access to Internet subscriber information to keep pace with child predators and other online criminals.

    RCMP Boss Bob Paulson Wants Warrantless Access To Online Subscriber Information