Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

PMO clarifies Trudeau and family stayed 'at no cost' during vacation in Jamaica

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Jan, 2024 04:08 PM
  • PMO clarifies Trudeau and family stayed 'at no cost' during vacation in Jamaica

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office is clarifying that he and his family are vacationing in Jamaica "at no cost at a location owned by family friends," after initially saying the family was paying for their stay.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Wednesday that the federal ethics commissioner was consulted "on these details prior to the travel to ensure that the rules were followed." 

The office offered the clarification the day before Trudeau's holiday on the Caribbean island is set to conclude. He is there with Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and their three children.

The pair announced last summer that they were separating after 18 years of marriage, with both saying in separate statements that they would remain close. 

Before the family left for Jamaica on Boxing Day, Trudeau's office said it consulted with the ethics commissioner and the family would cover the cost of their stay and reimburse the public for the cost of travelling on a government plane.

"The prime minister continues to reimburse the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for his personal travel and that of his family," his office said on Wednesday. 

Officials declined to confirm where Trudeau is staying. 

But CBC and Radio-Canada reported last spring that during the family's last New Year's trip to Jamaica, they stayed at a luxury estate owned by Peter Green, whose family has known the Trudeaus for decades. 

The public broadcaster reported at the time that the PMO declined to say whether Trudeau paid for his own accommodation.

Trudeau's travel to the Aga Khan's private island in the Bahamas following Christmas Day in 2016 landed him with a ethics violation for crossing conflict-of-interest rules. 

Former commissioner Mary Dawson ruled that Trudeau's vacation broke the law prohibiting ministers from accepting gifts or "advantages" that could be perceived as trying to influence government business. 

She concluded that the exception that applies if the gift comes from a friend did not apply in that case. Trudeau and the Aga Khan, a friend of his father's, had had little to no contact in the 30 years before his election as Liberal party leader. 

A spokesperson for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner said on Wednesday that it could not divulge details about what information Trudeau's office provided about the trip, citing the privacy requirements inked into the conflict-of-interest rules. 

"The office has a role only in ensuring that the gift provisions of the act and code are observed," Jocelyne Brisebois said in a written statement. 

"Note that there is an exception in the act that allows a public officer holder to accept gifts or other advantages given by a relative or friend and any such gifts do not require public disclosure."

MORE National ARTICLES

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion delayed for 2 years

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion delayed for 2 years
Trans Mountain is warning the completion of its pipeline expansion project through B-C may be delayed by two years due to a federal regulator decision. The company says the Canada Energy Regulator rejected a request for a pipeline variance through a 2.3-kilometre stretch of complex, hard rock conditions.

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion delayed for 2 years

House of Commons rises after tumultuous fall sitting, begins six-week winter break

House of Commons rises after tumultuous fall sitting, begins six-week winter break
The House of Commons has wrapped up its work for 2023 after an intense fall sitting, with MPs returning to their ridings for a six-week holiday break. A gun-control bill that enshrines a handgun freeze and a bill that lifts GST charges off rental developments and amends the country's competition law both crossed the finish line in Parliament this week. 

House of Commons rises after tumultuous fall sitting, begins six-week winter break

$115 M funding deal could help build 40,000 homes in Vancouver over decade: Trudeau

$115 M funding deal could help build 40,000 homes in Vancouver over decade: Trudeau
The announcement came on Friday after the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said housing starts in Canada fell 22 per cent in November, with starts down 39 per cent in Vancouver. Fraser said of the Vancouver deal that the cash from the government's Housing Accelerator Fund would cut barriers to building homes and "incentivize changes" at the municipal level

$115 M funding deal could help build 40,000 homes in Vancouver over decade: Trudeau

Assault charge for RCMP sergeant over alleged incident at Coquitlam detachment

Assault charge for RCMP sergeant over alleged incident at Coquitlam detachment
An RCMP officer has been charged with assault stemming from an incident in the Coquitlam, British Columbia, detachment a year ago. The BC Prosecution Service says in a release that Sgt. Antonio Guerrero Jr. is facing one count of assault after the charge was approved on Thursday.

Assault charge for RCMP sergeant over alleged incident at Coquitlam detachment

Online News Act funding capped for private broadcasters, CBC: regulations

Online News Act funding capped for private broadcasters, CBC: regulations
Final regulations for the Online News Act show the amount of funding private broadcasters will get through the government's $100-million deal with Google will be limited, with an even lower cap for the CBC. The regulations released on Friday say CBC/Radio-Canada will get no more than a $7-million share of the annual fund, while another $30 million at most will be reserved for other broadcasters.

Online News Act funding capped for private broadcasters, CBC: regulations

Finance ministers to talk housing, pensions and economy at annual meeting

Finance ministers to talk housing, pensions and economy at annual meeting
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland started off her meeting with her provincial and territorial counterparts by saying housing is the central priority for many Canadians today. She says today's discussions in Toronto will include looking how to work together to build more homes faster, and crack down on short term rentals.

Finance ministers to talk housing, pensions and economy at annual meeting