Madam Speaker, at a time when Canadians continue to struggle with basic affordability, like being able to feed themselves and being able to heat their homes as they get their first propane or oil delivery, and as the cold weather starts to set in and folks start receiving natural gas bills, many folks cannot even find a home because of the price of mortgage payments and the price of down payments. The price of rent has doubled under the government.
Canadians are still picking up massive tabs for the jet-setting, vacationing lifestyle of the Prime Minister. Six figures is what it costs when the Prime Minister wants to take a holiday, even though Canadians already keep up an official holiday residence for the Prime Minister, which has seen massive multi-million dollar upgrades during his time in office. His recent trip to Jamaica saw taxpayers pick up another six-figure tab. What is interesting here is that his host is a very recent donor to the Trudeau Foundation and is also the godson of the Prime Minister's late father.
No one disagrees that politicians, public servants and prime ministers are entitled to time away. A prime minister needs security and there are some costs that go along with that, but what is reasonable?
The common-sense approach would tell us that the regular cost we would incur if we were not a public office holder we would pay anyway. The price to stay at this particular locale is $9,000 a night. Who picked up the tab for that at a time when Canadians cannot afford the basics? Their grocery bags get lighter and lighter every week because they cannot afford food, and they have seen the inflationary policies of the government drive up the cost of everything. Its carbon tax on everything is driving up the cost of these essentials. Are they expected to pick up a tab for $9,000 a night for time off? That does not sound like a Sunwing or discount vacation to me, or a prime minister who is particularly engaged with the struggles that everyday Canadians are facing.
Canadians had questions about this and they put those questions to members of Parliament. We have not had an ethics commissioner for six months, and the government has just finally appointed an interim commissioner without conversation or co-operation with opposition parties. Canadians need to have confidence that, first of all, the rules are being followed, but also that the government realizes the realities they are facing every single day. The Liberal Prime Minister continues to drive up costs while also asking Canadians to pick up the tab for his expensive holidays.
When we asked for details from the government, it was quite indignant and was not prepared to offer an answer. However, I hope that with hindsight, time and the reality of the situation that we find ourselves in now, the parliamentary secretary will be able to provide clarity to Canadians.