As Canadians struggle with the rising cost of living, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading on a vacation to British Columbia with his family.
This comes after the prime minister’s announced separation from his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau.
Gregoire Trudeau will also be with the family on vacation.
Last week a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) hinted at the scheduled family vacation.
“Sophie and the Prime Minister have signed a legal separation agreement. They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward,” the PMO wrote.
“They remain a close family and Sophie and the Prime Minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. Both parents will be a constant presence in their children’s lives and Canadians can expect to often see the family together. The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week.”
According to the PMO, the trip was cleared with the ethics commissioner despite the role being vacant since the resignation of Martine Richard.
True North reached out to the PMO for clarification on the statement.
“Your questions lead to the notion of approval of a vacation and to clarify for you, the Commissioner does not approve regulatees’ vacations. The Office has a role only when the travel or stay could be considered a gift or other advantage under the Act or a gift or other benefit under the Code,” the Office of the Ethics Commissioner’s Director of Communications Melanie Rushworth told True North.
“In cases where a trip or stay is a gift, the regulatee must declare it under the Act or the Code and the Office can rule on its acceptability. Under the Act, if a public office holder or a member of their family accepts gift or other advantage worth $200 or more, the public office holder must declare it within 30 days. Under the Code the timeframe is within 60 days to declare a gift or other benefit.”
Richard resigned around the time that Trudeau was facing scrutiny for a family vacation to a luxury villa in Jamaica, which was owned by a long-time family friend and donor.
The pricey vacation cost taxpayers nearly $162,000 due to RCMP security details.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre blasted Trudeau for being a “freeloader” in the House of Commons in response to the trip.
