It is said that a scalded cat fears cold water. But Justin Trudeau has a knack for repeatedly getting himself in hot water. More specifically the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.
His family vacations may have caused scandal on many occasions, but the Prime Minister still chose to celebrate the New Year in a luxury villa by the sea in Jamaica.
White sand, dream pool, private tennis… Welcome to the lives of the rich and famous!
Bill for the Canadian taxpayer: at least $162,000, according to Radio-Canada. An amount that excludes the cost of using the National Defense Challenger to transport the family.
However, the Prime Minister should know that this kind of trip creates political waves.
In 2016, his family vacation at the home of the wealthy Aga Khan in the Bahamas ended with a $215,000 bill for taxpayers… and a reprimand from the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
In 2021, he had to apologize for taking a getaway to Tofino, on Vancouver Island, instead of accepting an invitation to celebrate with an Indigenous community the first-ever National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. , established by his government.
Making amends is good. But still it is necessary not to repeat the same errors in loop.
This time, it is true that Justin Trudeau obtained the green light from the Ethics Commissioner before going to this villa belonging to the family of Peter Green, a longtime friend of the Trudeau family.
In addition, the Prime Minister reimbursed the equivalent of the price of a commercial flight for himself and his family, although it is not known whether he paid other expenses out of his own pocket, particularly for accommodation. This point deserves to be clarified.
But beyond the ethical question, there is the question of perceptions on the part of the general public who are struggling to make ends meet with inflation which reached 6.8% last year.
This is where it hits.
While vacationing in an earthly paradise, Justin Trudeau projects the image of an elitist politician who consorts with multi-millionaires pulling the strings of power, while the Liberal Party constantly repeats that it cares for the famous “class- average-and-those-who-work-hard-to-make-it”. A middle class that still cares about the clutter at passport offices and airports.
Of course, heads of state have the right to family vacations, like everyone else. They work hard, they have the right to recharge their batteries. And since they cannot take a commercial flight to go to an all-inclusive, security obliges, taxpayers must expect to foot the bill.
Still, politicians have to exercise good judgment if they don’t want to be accused of being disconnected from the constituents they represent.
Disconnected because they take their holidays with wealthy people, like French President Nicolas Sarkozy who stayed on billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s yacht in 2007, which caused an outcry.
Disconnected because they take their leave at the wrong time, like US Senator Ted Cruz who flew to Cancún when Texas was rocked by a storm. Or like Premier Doug Ford snowmobiling to his second home as truckers swarmed Ottawa.
It all looks bad. Good bad.
With his vacation in Jamaica, Justin Trudeau serves holy bread to Pierre Poilievre who did not fail to toast it in the House of Commons. Note that the Conservatives also had their excesses when they were in power. Former leader Stephen Harper notably allowed himself a $45,000 weekend to attend a baseball game in New York.
Still, Justin Trudeau, who has been floundering for weeks on the issue of Chinese interference, did not need to plunge his party into hot water once again.