The Liberals’ new small business minister, Rechie Valdez, is facing backlash on social media over a video she posted showing off a meal of lobster and oysters during the Liberal cabinet retreat in Prince Edward Island.

This comes as more Canadians hit up food banks amid a rising cost of living.

Some social media posts compared Valdez, who is now earning a $287,400 salary as a minister, to the former Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, who supposedly said, “let them eat cake” when informed that starving peasants had no more bread. 

Valdez’s lobster video was part of her “Foodie Friday” series, in which she visits local restaurants and tries their food. She visited the Lobster On The Wharf Restaurant in Charlottetown.

“We’re here at Charlottetown, we’re trying out Lobster On The Wharf, and we’re gonna check out their amazing fresh seafood,” said Valdez. Adding, “I’m so excited for this.”

The video then shows the food Valdez had, including oysters and a lobster roll, as well as her feasting away.

Valdez received instant criticism over the video on X (formerly Twitter), with many calling it out of touch.

Conservative MP Kyle Seeback wrote “eating lobster and collecting per diems while Canadians can’t pay their mortgages. Breathtakingly out of touch.”

Conservative Senator Leo Housakos meanwhile said, “and here I thought the retreat was about finding ways to help struggling Canadians put food on their table amid a soaring cost of living crisis. The only food this Minister is concerned with is her own.” He also called Valdez out of touch.

National Post columnist Chris Selley asked “who runs Liberal comms, and what is wrong with them?”
640 Toronto talk radio show host Alex Pierson wrote “the struggle is also real for politicians. They get it. They REALLY get it.”

Another X user meanwhile said “I am a Maritimer… I can’t afford Lobster now… too expensive… but the Trudeau Cabinet can… because we are paying for it. Not smart Rechie… people are having a difficult time buying groceries.”

“I saw a girl sleeping in a shopping cart under a bus stop the other day because it was raining. The disconnect between what people like me see everyday and what people like you think matters to Canadians is so completely out of touch,” wrote another X user.

Valdez posted her video amid many Canadians struggling financially due to the rising cost of living. 

Sixty per cent more Canadians are expected to use food banks this year, something food banks are already feeling amid an increase in demand. Food banks have reported record usage this year, and are also running out of food.

Earlier this month, the Ottawa Food Bank had to cut volunteer shifts because it was short on food. “We’ve never seen anything like this,” CEO Rachael Wilson told Global News.

A survey also found that almost one in five Canadians are eating less than they should be due to rising food prices, while new data from Statistics Canada shows that one in four Canadians would not be able to afford a $500 unforeseen expenses

Several Canadians have taken to social media to vent about the struggles of living in Canada.

Valdez’s office did not respond to a request for comment from True North.

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