Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Does Justin Trudeau ever think about how something looks to others?

Apr 16, 2020 | 4:38 AM

KAMLOOPS — A BIG PART OF LEADERSHIP is setting a good example.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau failed to do that on the Easter long weekend as he said one thing, then did something else.

While the rest of us were staying home, just like he told us to do, he hopped in a cavalcade and drove to Harrington Lake — the prime minister’s summer retreat — to spend Easter with his wife and kids.

We have to acknowledge that Trudeau had been separated from his family for the past three weeks, has been working his butt off seven days a week and had showed exceptional leadership by isolating at his Ottawa home.

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He has been a voice of calm resolve during the COVID-19 crisis. But then he blew it.

It doesn’t matter that it’s only a half-hour drive from Ottawa to the Harrington Lake house in Quebec. It doesn’t matter that he deserved a break and that he deserved to visit with his family for a couple of days.

What matters is that he told us: “During the long weekend, we will all have to stay home. We cannot have gatherings for dinner and we’ll have to be creative to organize an Easter egg hunt inside the house.” And then ignored his own dictum and went off to the lake and held an Easter egg hunt — outside.

Did the Trudeaus put anyone at risk by doing that? Not likely. Maybe less than Conservative leader Andrew Scheer packing a nine-seater government jet full of family and a couple of other MPs for a flight to Ottawa, and claiming social distancing rules were maintained.

But it’s certainly disappointing. Trudeau set a terrible example.

You gotta wonder if he ever he ever asks himself, how would that look?

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He writes five commentaries a week for CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.