(Ottawa) Members of the Conservative Party of Canada have the green light to travel abroad during the holiday season, unlike their Liberal and New Democrat counterparts in the Commons who have received the directive of their left to stay at home.
The travel destinations of politicians during the same period last year had garnered a lot of attention as provincial and federal governments urged Canadians to avoid travel and gatherings in order to combat the rise in COVID-19 cases in the United States. country.
History therefore seems to be repeating itself with the “global travel advisory” published on the Government of Canada’s website on Wednesday.
The message couldn’t be clearer. “Avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada,” the federal government said, this time because of the new threat posed by the new Omicron variant.
The measure also applies to elected officials in the opinion of an official of the Liberal Party of Canada (PLC), in power, who points out that the Liberal members have been instructed to follow the rules of the Public Health Agency. from Canada and avoid non-essential international travel.
House of Commons Leader Mark Holland says he has already canceled his planned trip to celebrate a family member’s birthday in January and has revised his plans to limit the Christmas gathering less than 20 people.
In the New Democratic Party (NDP), party whip Rachel Blaney said the NDP caucus has also been warned to avoid non-essential international travel, adding that “Canadians expect their elected officials to follow the rules and give the example “.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, however, points out in a press release that there is no formal restriction prohibiting Canadians from traveling and that the advice of the federal government is rather used to guide people who have been properly vaccinated so that they take appropriate measures. informed decisions when planning their trip.
“This applies to members of Parliament as well as to all Canadians. Thus, elected Conservatives can continue to travel abroad, ”added the director of communications for the Conservative leader, Josie Sabatino.
She also pointed out that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several members of his cabinet did not refrain from traveling abroad at different times of the year after a similar advice had been issued by the federal government.