January 4, 2023 – In a revelation that has left many Canadians raising their eyebrows, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family enjoyed a luxurious 10-day Christmas vacation in Jamaica which would cost the average person over $80,000. But Trudeau is not the average person.
The Trudeaus stayed at a private compound within the Prospect Estate resort near Ocho Rios, a property owned by the Green family, longstanding friends with ties dating back to the 1970s through Trudeau’s late father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau. The lavish Frankfort villa, part of the resort, typically rents for $9,300 per night during the festive period, accumulating to a staggering $84,000 Canadian dollars for the entirety of their stay.
The 5,082sqft villa is within it’s own private compound comprised of two buildings, with 6 en suite bedrooms, and boasts a private swimming pool overlooks the ocean and eight person hot tub. Not to mention the on-demand personal villa concierge.
In addition to the opulence of the trip, there was also a transparency issue. Initially, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated that the family would be covering the cost of their vacation. However, it was later clarified that the Trudeaus stayed “at no cost” in a property owned by family friends. This lead Deputy-Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Melissa Lantsman to say Trudeau “lied to Canadians”.
On the upside, the stay at the resort atleast didn’t cost the taxpayers money, but the taxpayers still had to pony-up for the cost of the flight there on the private PMO plane. However, we were assured by the PMO’s office that, “The prime minister continues to reimburse the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for his personal travel and that of his family.”
The optics of Trudeau’s extravagant holiday choice during these challenging times have sparked criticism from various quarters. At a time when many Canadians are grappling with financial hardships, struggling to afford basic necessities such as food and housing.
The PMO defended the vacation, emphasizing consultation with the federal ethics commissioner before the trip to ensure compliance with rules. Despite this, the substantial cost of the trip and the lack of transparency regarding who footed the bill have fueled public discontent.
This is not the first time Trudeau has faced scrutiny over his holiday choices. A previous trip to the Aga Khan’s private island in the Bahamas resulted in an ethics violation due to the Aga Khan Foundation, a registered lobby, receiving over $50 million of federal funding from the Liberal government around the time of the trip. This highlights a pattern of questionable vacation decisions.
Last year, Trudeau stayed at the same Jamaican resort but did not disclose who footed the bill.
As Canadians navigate economic challenges, Trudeau’s opulent holiday stands in stark contrast to the financial struggles of many citizens, fueling concerns about the Prime Minister’s disconnect from the everyday realities faced by the majority of the population.
