OTTAWA —
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s “disappointed” by numerous federal and provincial political figures from a range of parties — including his own — who travelled abroad despite advisories to avoid all non-essential travel during the still-raging global pandemic.
Resuming his morning addresses from Rideau Cottage for the first time in the new year, Trudeau said it’s key that Canadians feel as if they are all in the COVID-19 fight together and seeing these political leaders and public officials acting against public health guidance is detrimental to the overall effort to get the virus’ spread under control nationwide.
“The actions of any one person can have a positive or a negative benefit on the health situation of your neighbour,” Trudeau said. “That’s why I was disappointed to find [out] two of our caucus members who travelled and [that’s] why there were consequences… And that’s why all Canadians were so disappointed to see so many examples of folks who should have known better doing things that put us all at risk.”
The prime minister’s office has told CTV News that Trudeau stayed at home with his family over the holidays.
While Trudeau did face some scrutiny over Easter for travelling from his Ontario Rideau Cottage residence to Harrington Lake just across the river in Quebec, he has not left the country since the pandemic was declared.
With the exception of Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, who travelled internationally to meet with counterparts in late August, and an early March trip to Washington D.C. taken by Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, no federal cabinet minister has made a trip out of the country since the virus began spreading across the world.
But as CTV News has reported, several federal politicians have come under fire for taking international trips over the holidays and prior. In some instances these officials have faced sanctions for doing so, such as being stripped of additional responsibilities and the salary top-ups that come with them.
Three Liberal MPs travelled abroad during the summer “to complete essential family affairs,” and have not faced sanctions for doing so, though two other Liberal MPs had not informed Chief Government Whip Mark Holland’s office of their travel and so they have been stripped of their additional parliamentary responsibilities.
Ontario Liberal MP Kamal Khera has stepped aside from her role as parliamentary secretary to the minister of International Development after visiting Seattle, Wash. on Dec. 23 for a private memorial for her uncle and father, both of whom passed away during the past few months.
Quebec Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi travelled to the U.S. in December in order to visit his wife’s grandfather, whose health was deteriorating, he said. Zuberi resigned from his roles on parliamentary committees, which do not come with financial compensation.
Among the Conservatives, two MPs have taken international trips since the pandemic was declared, as has Senate opposition leader, Sen. Don Plett, who “travelled briefly to Mexico on personal travel,” and upon his arrival “reflected on his decision to travel and immediately made arrangements to return home,” according to his office.
In his role as opposition leader in the Senate, Plett receives an additional $41,300 salary top-up and Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole’s office has indicated no intention of removing Plett from his leadership position.
Alberta Conservative MP Ron Liepert has travelled twice since March, once during the current parliamentary break, to Palm Desert, Calif., to deal with “essential house maintenance issues.” O’Toole’s office has not indicated any sanctions for Liepert as a result of these trips.
However, fellow Conservative MP from Ontario, David Sweet, has resigned as chair of the House of Commons Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee, and has announced he will not be running again in the next federal election.
According to the party, Sweet travelled to the U.S. to deal with a “property issue” but then stayed afterward “for leisure,” without telling O’Toole or the party’s whip. Committee chairs receive a $12,600 salary top-up that Sweet will no longer be receiving.
As for the NDP, Manitoba MP Niki Ashton lost her critic roles after revealing that she travelled abroad to visit an ailing family member in Greece. The party said Ashton had not informed them of her travel before departing. As her additional titles were not governmental or parliamentary, there is no financial compensation attached.
“As leaders we’ve been encouraging and exhorting Canadians to continue to do the right thing, so it is unfortunate to see a number of politicians not take their own advice,” said Trudeau on Tuesday. “I understand and share the frustration that many Canadians are feeling who would have loved to have a little break from all this but who know that it is not the time to do that.”
In addition to the financial penalties, political science experts have warned of the broader reputational and public opinion impact these trips will have on MPs re-election chances with a general public who has largely chosen against behaving similarly and have lost out on being with loved ones at key moments in their lives.
“It is a global pandemic which means if you decide to go on holidays in the Caribbean or in Mexico or somewhere else, you’re not actually escaping the pandemic. You’re acting in a way that’s irresponsible and doesn’t follow the best public health advice that has been available publicly for many, many months,” said cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc on Tuesday, addressing as well the Canadians who opted for tropical vacations this Christmas and are now facing stricter measures upon their return to this country.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
