House ethics committee may probe Trudeau’s Jamaica holiday. Why?

The House of Commons ethics committee will debate Wednesday whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ’s holiday in Jamaica warrants a study. The committee is set to meet at 10:30 a.m. Eastern at the request of Conservative MPs Michael Barrett, Jacques Gourde, Damien Kurek and Bloc Quebecois MP Rene Villemure.

In a letter addressed to the committee’s chair, the MPs said that Trudeau’s vacation to the Caribbean nation raises “red flags” under Canada’s ethics rules, and that the committee should meet on the matter despite MPs being on holiday break until Jan. 29. “Serious questions have been raised over the Prime Minister’s trip to Jamaica and if it breaks Canada’s ethics laws,” they said.

“Canadians struggling in a cost of living crisis that scraped by this holiday season want answers on the Prime Minister’s vacation, and rightfully so.” Story continues below advertisement 3:50 Trudeau reiterates vacation stay at villa in Jamaica was not $80k gift, but belongs to family friends The Tories have called for an investigation into Trudeau’s trip in Jamaica with his three children and former spouse Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

Get the latest National news. Sent to your email, every day. Trudeau returned to Ottawa to face similar criticism for staying at an oceanfront villa in Jamaica at no cost, as reported by the National Post. Rooms go for around $9,300 per night, according to the resort’s website. Prospect Estate and Villas located near Ocho Rios is owned by businessman Peter Green.

The Green family has known the Trudeaus for decades, and Trudeau has faced criticisms and questions about stays at the same resort in the past . Had Trudeau paid out of pocket, a nine night stay would appear to be worth roughly $84,000. In a separate letter to interim ethics commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein, Barrett said the resort stay was “not the equivalent of staying at a friend’s home, in a guest house on a wealthy friend’s property, or even a personal home which might be rented out periodically.” Story continues below advertisement 2:15 Trudeau’s Jamaica family holiday facing scrutiny Earlier this month, the prime minister’s office said in a statement the trip had been cleared by the ethics commissioner, and originally said he would continue to reimburse the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for his personal travel and that of his family.

Trending Now El Niño winters are typically mild. What’s driving extreme cold in Canada? Do you know how to stay safe if you lose heat during extreme cold? But last week, they clarified that Trudeau and his family stayed “at no cost at a location owned by family friends,” after it originally told The Canadian Press the family was paying.

In his letter, Barrett raises concerns that as the resort would be “forgoing substantial revenue” by allowing a free of charge stay, the holiday was “a gift — and a very substantial gift at that.” 2:02 Trudeau grilled by Poilievre over $162,000 Jamaica family trip He goes on to note that the Conflict of Interest Act makes it clear that no public office holder or family member “shall accept any gift or other advantage … that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence the public office holder in the exercise of an official power, duty or function.” Story continues below advertisement Trudeau’s last Caribbean getaway cost taxpayers around $162,000, with most of it going to security and personnel costs for the RCMP and Royal Canadian Air Force.

At the time, the prime minister’s office said he paid the “equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for himself and his family” which is “standard practice.” The ethics commissioner also cleared that trip. — with files from Global News’ Sean Previl and The Canadian Press More on Politics Donald Trump wins Iowa caucuses in opening salvo for Republican nomination Tying immigration to homes a ‘good’ idea but not a fix all: Housing minister Federal officials were wary of creating ‘chill’ over research security: documents Alberta Electric System Operator lifts Monday morning grid alert as cold snap continues.