The Snowbird scandal is forcing Canadian politicians looking for the sun

Photographer: E + / Getty Images

Jumping on a plane for a winter break is a Canadian ritual. Suddenly, however, it became a mistake that turned politicians’ careers upside down.

Three provincial ministers, inclusive The Ontario chief financial officer was forced to resign from the cabinet last week after being called to quiet destinations over the holidays, defying their governments’ guidelines for staying home because of Covid-19. About a dozen public officials who have traveled abroad have been accused of ethical violations, some losing their parliamentary titles, including two members of Justin Trudeau’s government.

“It simply came to our notice then. No one should go on vacation abroad right now, “Trudeau said at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday. “One of the things that was really, really important in this pandemic for Canadians is the feeling that we are all together.” He said people traveling abroad would not be eligible for a $ 1,000 ($ 780) government benefit for those who need to isolate themselves.

Canada’s travel rules are strict by the standards of most Western countries. Borders are closed for the vast majority of foreigners and a 14-day quarantine on arrival has slowed air traffic. Canadian authorities have discouraged non-essential travel abroad, although it is not prohibited.

Faced with a wave of infections that threatened to overwhelm hospitals as the holidays approached in December, several provinces sent their savings back stricter blockages and asked people to sacrifice family gatherings for the greater good.

“I’m the guy who steals Christmas to keep you safe,” Manitoba Prime Minister Brian Pallister told an emotional news conference, summing up the mood across the country.

Most Canadians dressed during the holidays. Then came the evidence that some do just the opposite.

The Journal de Montreal newspaper sent a reporter to an all-inclusive resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, who found tourists in Quebec sitting maskless and handing out drinks and cigarettes.

This article and similar reports have made the French-speaking province mad. They have raised fears that travelers will bring the virus back in a repeat of the March school break, which officials blame for the death toll in Quebec – 8,379 dead, most of them in Canada.

Along with Ontario, travel became a political scandal when it was revealed that Finance Minister Rod Phillips was on holiday in Saint Barthelemy after his government imposed a large-scale closure of the business. Worsening the problem, Phillips released pre-recorded messages on Twitter, which gave the impression that he was still in the country. He resigned on December 31.

In Saskatchewan, a minister who had traveled to California resigned from the cabinet on Monday.