Trudeau and family vacationing in Jamaica ‘at no cost,’ PMO clarifies – National | 24CA News
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s workplace is clarifying that he and his household are vacationing in Jamaica “at no cost at a location owned by family friends,” after initially saying the household was paying for his or her keep.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated in a press release on Wednesday that the federal ethics commissioner was consulted “on these details prior to the travel to ensure that the rules were followed.”
The workplace supplied the clarification the day earlier than Trudeau’s vacation on the Caribbean island is ready to conclude. He is there with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their three youngsters.
The pair introduced final summer season that they have been separating after 18 years of marriage, with each saying in separate statements that they’d stay shut.
Before the household left for Jamaica on Boxing Day, Trudeau’s workplace stated it consulted with the ethics commissioner and the household would cowl the price of their keep and reimburse the general public for the price of travelling on a authorities aircraft.
“The prime minister continues to reimburse the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for his personal travel and that of his family,” his workplace stated on Wednesday.
Officials declined to substantiate the place Trudeau is staying.
But CBC and Radio-Canada reported final spring that in the course of the household’s final New Year’s journey to Jamaica, they stayed at a luxurious property owned by Peter Green, whose household has recognized the Trudeaus for many years.
The public broadcaster reported on the time that the PMO declined to say whether or not Trudeau paid for his personal lodging.
Trudeau’s journey to the Aga Khan’s non-public island within the Bahamas following Christmas Day in 2016 landed him with a ethics violation for crossing conflict-of-interest guidelines.
Former commissioner Mary Dawson dominated that Trudeau’s trip broke the legislation prohibiting ministers from accepting presents or “advantages” that might be perceived as attempting to affect authorities business.
She concluded that the exception that applies if the reward comes from a pal didn’t apply in that case. Trudeau and the Aga Khan, a pal of his father’s, had had little to no contact within the 30 years earlier than his election as Liberal occasion chief.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner stated on Wednesday that it couldn’t disclose particulars about what info Trudeau’s workplace supplied concerning the journey, citing the privateness necessities inked into the conflict-of-interest guidelines.
“The office has a role only in ensuring that the gift provisions of the act and code are observed,” Jocelyne Brisebois stated in a written assertion.
“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.”
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