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By Files from the Canadian Press

COVID-19

Politicians across Canada under fire for international travel during the holidays

Jan 3, 2021 | 7:53 AM

VANCOUVER – Health experts are calling on Canada’s elected officials to practise what they preach, after several politicians were discovered to have travelled over the holidays despite telling Canadians to stay home to contain the spread of COVID-19.

A federal New Democrat from Manitoba, and provincial legislators from a number provinces — including multiple M-L-As from Alberta — have admitted to taking trips outside the country in recent weeks.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says because there was no firm rule, none of the members of his government who recently vacationed abroad will be sanctioned. At least four more M-L-As have admitted to travelling outside the country against public health recommendations, after it was revealed Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard spent the holidays in Hawaii.

In Ontario, provincial Finance Minister Rod Phillips resigned last week upon his return from a two-week vacation in St. Barts, where he had been since Dec. 13.

Provincially elected officials in Quebec and Saskatchewan have also come under fire for leaving the country in recent weeks. There have been no reports of provincial or federally elected politicians in British Columbia leaving Canada over the holidays.

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The federal NDP removed the cabinet critic roles from Manitoba MP Niki Ashton after it was learned she had left the country to travel to Greece to visit with a family member who was seriously ill.

Toronto-based epidemiologist Doctor Maria Sundaram says under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t endorse shaming people as a public health strategy. But she says politicians must be held to a higher standard, because their actions set an example for the public they serve.

Canada’s COVID-19 numbers continue to surge, with health officials bracing for even higher case counts following the holiday season.

Saturday Ontario announced another record number of new cases on a single day with 3,363 new patients. Ontario is one of several provinces that have begun reporting spikes in COVID-19 cases — believed to be linked to pre-holiday activities.