The two nannies hired by Justin Trudeau to work at his new residence were previously employed by his family to look after his children, a cost he is passing on to taxpayers now that he is prime minister.
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During the election campaign, Trudeau blasted the Harper government’s plan to provide subsidies of up to $2,000 a year to all parents, regardless of income, to help with child care.
Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said Trudeau ought to be paying his own child care bills.
“Well, I think he’s worked himself into a really bad spot on this one because he’s stood up so many times and said: ‘I’m wealthy”.
New Democrat MP Sheila Malcolmson, the party’s status of women critic, called out the prime minister for paying his nannies so little.
The two women were recently hired as “special assistants”, making between $15 and $20 an hour, and $11 to $13 overnight. People who were looking for something to criticize will do so. “I’m stunned to hear that figure and I am saddened”.
“I don’t think we can compare the situation of the prime minister and everyone’s family”, LeCointee said in an interview with Alan Neal on CBC Radio’s All in a Day.
“Given the nature of the prime minister’s responsibilities and his young family, the Trudeaus employ two household employees who, in addition to performing other duties around the house, act as secondary caregivers to the three children”, spokesperson Kate Purchase told the CBC.
Purchase did not specify what those other duties entail, but said similar arrangements have existed for Trudeau’s predecessors.
The prime minister is paid about $330,000 annually.
Trudeau is also entitled to collect around $3,400 as part of Canada’s universal child care benefit, though he has said this money will be donated to charity.
She’s also pleased to see that more than one nanny is now caring for Trudeau’s three children.
No information was provided, despite multiple requests made to the party.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Meets with Organisation internationale de la Francophonie Secretary General Michaelle Jean November 29, 2015 Paris, France The two met during the Prime Minister’s bilateral visit to France.
As a taxpayer you want the Prime Minister’s attention to be on matters of public policy, unfettered by domestic concerns.
The positions were approved last week by the cabinet, though the nannies will be paid for their work from 4 November – the day Trudeau and his cabinet were sworn in.
Trayvilla appears to have moved with family from Philippines to Ottawa and about five years ago was working for Ottawa lawyer Kirsten Crain and her husband, John Morales, who lived around the corner from the home Trudeau later rented in Rockcliffe.
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This means the Trudeau caregivers are not additional full-time hires at the prime minister’s residence – news that seems to have deflated some of the criticism.
