Spokeswoman defends Trudeau family’s use of taxpayer-funded caregivers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s nanny decision could well be the spark that reignites a debate about how the federal government can best help parents with the cost of child care.

Two nannies were hired as “special assistants” at the prime minister’s home under the Official Residences Act.

Trudeau and his wife Sophie have three young children – Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien – who make the family eligible for $3,400 a year in child-care benefits, money Trudeau has promised to give to charity.

Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose says he should be footing his own child-care bills.

The hiring of nannies on the public dime is at odds with Trudeau’s claim, made repeatedly during the election campaign, that wealthy families like his don’t need the Enhanced Universal Child Care Benefit introduced by the previous Conservative government.

Speaking on CTV’s News Channel on Wednesday, Lecointe said Trudeau “deserves to have employees paid by the government to take care of his family while on duty”. Why are you having taxpayers pay for your nannies?

In a comment published by Peter C. Newman in his book, “The Secret Mulroney Tapes”, Mr. Mulroney would later say that “It’s bad enough that we were in deep trouble, this ruined us forever”.

She added that, as prime minister, Trudeau must have “that support to ensure that the children receive the care they need and they don’t suffer”.

Anyone who thinks the miniscule cost of two nannies is, in any way a “scandal”, is making much ado about nothing. The Liberals have said that change will be their first piece of legislation when the House of Commons returns.

Apart from the friendship which they built, Issa’s level of comfort in urging the new Canadian prime minister to be a great ally of Jamaica, hinges on what he told the North Coast Times was Trudeau’s admiration for Jamaica and Jamaicans and his wish “to see Jamaica be the success it ought to be”; as well as his “many positive remarks about the Nation’s soul” and the fact that “he loves the service, beaches and feels comfortable being here”. The Paris Climate conference kicked off today, and Prime Minister Trudeau made it known that Canada is back in the game when it comes to clean energy technologies, emission reduction goals and climate negotiations.

The Prime Minister’s Office said Wednesday that the total number of people working at Rideau Cottage, the prime minister’s residence, will not increase despite the two recent nanny hires.

As a taxpayer you want the Prime Minister’s attention to be on matters of public policy, unfettered by domestic concerns.

Section 7.1 of the Official Residence Act says that “a steward or housekeeper and such other employees” can be hired to manage the prime minister’s residence if considered necessary. “He will be adapting the staff complement to suit his family’s requirements, given he is the proud father of three young children”, Kate Purchase said in an email.