OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today defended his foreign affairs minister’s recent and upcoming work-related travel overseas as “essential,” as he assured Canadians that all quarantine and testing requirements will be followed.
Asked whether Canadians might think it hypocritical they have been told to avoid international travel for more than a year, but Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau doesn’t have to, Trudeau said his government has always “highlighted the need for essential travel.” “There are thousands of trucks with food and essential goods that cross the U.S. border every day. We continue to see essential travel happening, the question always remains what is essential travel and are the rules going to be followed,” he said Tuesday, speaking to reporters in Ottawa.Garneau travelled to the U.K. early in the month to attend an in-person meeting of G7 foreign and development ministers.
In a statement to CTVNews.ca, the minister’s spokesperson Syrine Khoury said “There will be no special treatment for the minister and he will pass through the same process as every Canadian coming back.”“All quarantines and testing will be abided by because nobody is exempt from keeping Canadians safe,” he said.” he’ll be able to attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit in the U.K. next month.
On March 13, 2020 the federal government issued a global travel advisory to avoid non-essential international travel, which remains in place today.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Tone deaf
Not essential these days with technology.!!!!!
Cmon where did Trudolt go over the Xmas holidays?
The G7 meeting had virtual attendees. They did not need to travel. Yet Binational families have been shamed for traveling, told to 'just zoom call' as if after so long its a replacement. The hypocrisy is gross. I hope the rep. reported the hotels for not meeting govt. standards.
Our families are travelling here bc in my case I have not seen my husband for almost 2 years. Our sons for 3 years All bc your government deems section 179(b) is “vital” to Canadian security but yet you allow spouses of temp residents and students to come. Seriously?
So is he going to the quarantine hotel? I want to see pictures of him check in 😂
I haven't seen my fully vaccinated fiancé in nearly 18 months. I've been suicidal and suffering major anxiety attacks almost daily. He helps me through all these issues, but now that I can't see him I'm falling a part.
You and your ministers determined that my children seeing their mother when she was waiting for a liver transplant wasn’t essential. My children are Canadian by descent. The CBSA said they needed proof. Their mother died before your ministry would process their proof. CanadianPM
How is spreading a virus essential?
Rules for me and rules for thee.
No foreign travel is essential , stay home
Maybe you can have a hot dog with your loved ones this year.. With a large security team to keep you from the cause your supporting
And parliament is that essential?
My trip to Florida for my second dose is also essential!
Yes it was a essential for him to travel during covid-19 and possibly bring it back to Canada when he came back that was an essential need that we need it🙄
So, seeing my family is not essential? For a country with more than half of it's workforce made of immigrants and most of us being completely alone in the country, family companionship is not considered essential, but attending a meeting is? Are civilians second class citizens?
Still haven't been able to so much as hold my fully vaccinated partner's hand. I will be vaccinated on Saturday and we still don't even have a plan. Some guidance and less xenophobia would be nice.
Sounds like do as I say not as I do. trudeaudictatorship TrudeauFailedCanada TrudeauMustGo
Glad Garneau is following the isolating rules etc., but I don’t agree his travel is necessary. Could have accomplished the same thing on a conference/Zoom call. In fact, govt could cut spending a lot by cancelling unnecessary travel. Don’t need to be in-person to do business.
Really not essential.
rachaiello Special rules for liberals. Some things never change.
Nope. NOT even remotely 'essential.' Your PM is lying to you.
Isn’t essential service delivering food,medicine etc. I don’t think that a meeting that can be done over zoom is essential.
Since March 13th, how many international flights have landed in Canada with infections aboard? I don't think the gentle finger wag is accomplishing much.
If essential...we should be asking why? What essential service is being delivered? Can this minister not use Zoom? Why the different standard? Will this minister need to stay at one of the covid facilities?
🤡🤡🤡 RemoveThePM JustinTrudeau
Who pays for his mandatory hotel quarantine?