Trudeau charges taxpayers $127,000 for holiday

[Rwede]

Justin Trudeau's trip to Aga Khan's Bahamas island cost more than $127K


Controversial trip to private island now under ethics investigation


Elizabeth Thompson · Senior Reporter · CBC News

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's controversial family vacation to a private island in the Bahamas owned by the Aga Khan cost Canadian taxpayers more than $127,000, including thousands of dollars in per diems for government employees who also made the trip.

According to documents tabled in the House of Commons, overtime and shift differentials alone for the RCMP officers who accompanied him cost $18,735. The force paid another $53,253 in travel, accommodation and per diem costs.

Trudeau's flight to the Bahamas aboard a CC-144 Challenger cost the Department of National Defence $32,000, plus another $1,720 for food, beverages and associated fees.

Trudeau has come under fire in the House of Commons for taking the trip over the Christmas holidays and for his office's initial refusal to disclose where he was vacationing. Billionaire Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims.

Trudeau was accompanied on the trip by MP Seamus O'Regan and his husband, as well as Liberal Party president Anna Gainey and her husband, Tom Pitfield, a key member of Trudeau's election campaign team.

Trudeau has defended the trip, arguing that the Aga Khan is a longtime family friend. He has reimbursed taxpayers $4,895 for the trip — the cost of commercial plane tickets for him and his family.

Government security rules require that the prime minister not travel on commercial aircraft — even for personal vacations with their families.

However, that has not stopped ethics commissioner Mary Dawson from launching an investigation into a complaint filed by Conservative MP Andrew Scheer.

Per diems for staff

The documents tabled in the House of Commons reveal that government employees made the trip to the Bahamas, in addition to Trudeau's usual RCMP protective detail.

The Privy Council provided a "tour technician," who charged the government $6,305 in expenses. Air transportation cost $2,263, other transportation cost $1,349, meals and incidentals racked up $626, and hotel accommodation was $461.

The technician also charged the government $1,604 in per diems for their time on Bell Island — the Aga Khan's private island.

However, that wasn't the only person accompanying the prime minister to charge per diems for the trip.

Global Affairs picked up the tab for $15,173 for staff who travelled to the Bahamas — $1,267 of which was for per diems. Transportation cost $11,978 and the bill for accommodation was $1,927.


Snipppppp


Global Affairs and the Privy Council Office have not yet responded to requests from CBC News for more information, including why employees would have claimed per diems while staying on a private island.

New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair said the cost to taxpayers of Trudeau's trip to the Bahamas was "completely outrageous."

Mulcair said it was "scandalous" that Trudeau is only reimbursing $4,895 of the $127,000 price tag for the vacation.

"He should start setting an example. His way of comporting himself is inadmissible."

During question period, Conservative MP Blaine Calkins went on the attack, demanding to know why taxpayers were left holding such an expensive tab.

"The prime minister made a conscious decision that it's the responsibility of the taxpayer to pay for his luxury travel. When did the prime minister forget that it's his job to serve Canadians and not the other way around?"

Calkins also questioned how the prime minister and those who flew with him ran up a $1,720 bill for food and beverages on the plane.

"Just what in the world was the prime minister eating on that plane ride?"

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/tr ... -1.4034413

[JLives]

It costs $3 million dollars every weekend Trump goes golfing and $1 million a day so his wife can live in her gold tower. He's about to spend his 7th weekend in a row wasting huge amounts of tax dollars taking the weekend off. $127k is a thank you for reminding us how lucky we are. I hope Trudeau enjoyed his well deserved time off.

[Atomoa]

I hope Trudeau enjoyed his well deserved time off.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stock-o ... -1.4030442

This tax perk for wealthy CEOs will cost Canada $840M this year

Yeah he's been so busy walking backwards on his promises he's worked up a sweat. He's needs that R&R. Can't expect much heavy lifting from a man who as a child learned to order adults around that were on his family's payroll.

According to the finance department, keeping this perk intact will cost Ottawa a projected $840 million this year. That's one reason many critics would like to see the deduction eliminated.

The federal Liberal Party at one time agreed. As part of its 2015 campaign promise "to target tax loopholes that particularly benefit Canada's top one per cent," it pledged to cap the stock option deduction.

Then five months after winning the election, the new Liberal government quietly abandoned the plan in its first budget.

[Merry]

It costs $3 million dollars every weekend Trump goes golfing and $1 million a day so his wife can live in her gold tower. He's about to spend his 7th weekend in a row wasting huge amounts of tax dollars taking the weekend off. $127k is a thank you for reminding us how lucky we are. I hope Trudeau enjoyed his well deserved time off.

There are a heck of a lot more taxpayers contributing to Trump's expenses than there are to Trudeau's.

In addition to which, WHY, if this was a family vacation with an old family friend, were folks like Seamus O'Reagen tagging along?

I don't begrudge the PM a holiday now and again, but Taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill. If this was a family vacation, as opposed to an official trip, then the only thing we should be paying for is the Government plane, and his personal security detail. The rest should be on Trudeau's own tab.

[Merry]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stock-o ... -1.4030442

This tax perk for wealthy CEOs will cost Canada $840M this year

Yeah he's been so busy walking backwards on his promises he's worked up a sweat. He's needs that R&R. Can't expect much heavy lifting from a man who as a child learned to order adults around that were on his family's payroll.

According to the finance department, keeping this perk intact will cost Ottawa a projected $840 million this year. That's one reason many critics would like to see the deduction eliminated.

The federal Liberal Party at one time agreed. As part of its 2015 campaign promise "to target tax loopholes that particularly benefit Canada's top one per cent," it pledged to cap the stock option deduction.

Then five months after winning the election, the new Liberal government quietly abandoned the plan in its first budget.

I know a mining CEO who made over half a million of his salary in stock options one year.

What possible justification can there be for allowing such high income earners to pay a far lower tax rate than their regularly salaried counterparts? It's absolutely outrageous, and the only reason it's allowed to continue is because most folks don't fully understand how being paid with stock options translates into massive tax savings for the lucky few.

[fvkasm2x]

It costs $3 million dollars every weekend Trump goes golfing and $1 million a day so his wife can live in her gold tower. He's about to spend his 7th weekend in a row wasting huge amounts of tax dollars taking the weekend off. $127k is a thank you for reminding us how lucky we are. I hope Trudeau enjoyed his well deserved time off.

So because Trump is the biggest idiot on the planet, we should be thankful we have the 2nd biggest one as our leader?

[Barney Google]

I could care less, at this point, what the Americans are facing with The Donald's expenditures.

This is Canada...not the 54th US 'state'.

JT is playing like an International Playboy at the expense of hard working Canadians.

He wants/needs a vacation he's got a whole Nation to enjoy and relax in

Pretty hard for the average Canadian to be supportive of globe trotting fantasy vacations when they will

never in their wildest dreams experience anything like that themselves.

Makes paying for it a hard pill to swallow.

[The Green Barbarian]

It costs $3 million dollars every weekend Trump goes golfing and $1 million a day so his wife can live in her gold tower. .

1. What does this have to do with our Airhead PM screwing taxpayers for his holidays
2. Let me guess, the "source" for the above comment was the left, and it's just more fake news

[The Green Barbarian]

I hope Trudeau enjoyed his well deserved time off.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stock-o ... -1.4030442

This tax perk for wealthy CEOs will cost Canada $840M this year

Yeah he's been so busy walking backwards on his promises he's worked up a sweat. He's needs that R&R. Can't expect much heavy lifting from a man who as a child learned to order adults around that were on his family's payroll.

According to the finance department, keeping this perk intact will cost Ottawa a projected $840 million this year. That's one reason many critics would like to see the deduction eliminated.

The federal Liberal Party at one time agreed. As part of its 2015 campaign promise "to target tax loopholes that particularly benefit Canada's top one per cent," it pledged to cap the stock option deduction.

Then five months after winning the election, the new Liberal government quietly abandoned the plan in its first budget.

I for one am glad that the Liberals walked away from screwing with stock options. When I see communists like the Canadians for Tax Fairness commenting on something, I know the only real choice is to do the opposite of whatever they are advocating for. Good job Justin!

[Retrosnap]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/stock-o ... -1.4030442
This tax perk for wealthy CEOs will cost Canada $840M this year

Such a misleading headline from CBC, but not surprising.

Yes, CEO's get stock options, but so do ten of thousands of regular employees, often working for startups in the high tech industry, which is an industry that claims to have difficulties recruiting, and an industry that fits in with JT's desire for skilled workers. Stock options are one tool that companies have to attract talent. For every CEO that gets them, there are many more "middle class" Canadians who get them.

[Chyren]

When the heck did common sense leave the world?

Trudeau didn't CHARGE taxpayers anything. I will go on record and let the world know I'm a capital C conservative but if you're really sitting at your keyboard, reading this stuff, pondering your response, then please THINK.

Trudeau is our Prime Minister. Trudeau is our leader. Lots of you voted for him. Like it or not he's our guy for now.

He also deserves security. He also deserves to be able to go on a friggin' holiday!

Just because you or I can't do it willy nilly doesn't make it wrong. If he goes on a holiday then its going to cost a lot of money.

You people that complain about it really need to stop and think. Why do you think he doesn't? He works full time and then some as our leader.

Yes there are big costs and yes on paper it looks bad but do some thinking and realize its the nature of the beast. That's what it costs because he's a world leader and he's our leader.

[The Green Barbarian]

When the heck did common sense leave the world?

Trudeau didn't CHARGE taxpayers anything. I will go on record and let the world know I'm a capital C conservative but if you're really sitting at your keyboard, reading this stuff, pondering your response, then please THINK.

Trudeau is our Prime Minister. Trudeau is our leader. Lots of you voted for him. Like it or not he's our guy for now.

He also deserves security. He also deserves to be able to go on a friggin' holiday!

Just because you or I can't do it willy nilly doesn't make it wrong. If he goes on a holiday then its going to cost a lot of money.

You people that complain about it really need to stop and think. Why do you think he doesn't? He works full time and then some as our leader.

Yes there are big costs and yes on paper it looks bad but do some thinking and realize its the nature of the beast. That's what it costs because he's a world leader and he's our leader.

Good points. Let's hope the next time a Conservative wins the election, that our communist counter-parts will give him/her the same kind of lee-way they are giving their Liberal air-head right now.

[Muzza]

What possible justification can there be for allowing such high income earners to pay a far lower tax rate than their regularly salaried counterparts? It's absolutely outrageous, and the only reason it's allowed to continue is because most folks don't fully understand how being paid with stock options translates into massive tax savings for the lucky few.

You don't understand how stock options are used in the real world. Yes there are some wealthy people who receive them, and yes, I think those should be taxed more. However, there are many more people like me, who during the tech boom worked primarily for stock options. At one point I owned several million stock options. Do you you what they were worth in the end? Zero. At that point in my life I didn't care, as I was having a blast working with lots of exciting startups, so no regrets. I learned so much at that time.

Stock options allow small start up companies to grow without having to raise large sums of money. When these small companies succeed, they will be large contributors to the Canadian economy. There are many people working for these companies who are not wealthy, that are partially paid with stock options. They are taking a financial risk to do what they love. Why should they suffer because of that?

[The Green Barbarian]

What possible justification can there be for allowing such high income earners to pay a far lower tax rate than their regularly salaried counterparts? It's absolutely outrageous, and the only reason it's allowed to continue is because most folks don't fully understand how being paid with stock options translates into massive tax savings for the lucky few.

Here we go again. I remember we argued this over and over again when Angry Tom and the NDP were promising to "close loop-holes" during the last election. This is not a "loop hole", it's treating a stock option exercise the same way that a capital gain on a sale of stock is treated for tax purposes. The only reason its allowed is that it makes total sense from a taxation point of view, and the only reason anyone like the dunder-heads at the Canadians for Tax Fairness complain is the same reason they always complain, because they are jealous that no one sees any value in what they do (because there isn't) and so would never offer them an incentive via equity to be rewarded for what they do. So if they can't benefit, no one should. The socialist mantra. Things aren't fair until everyone is equal, and that means equally suffering.

[Merry]

Here we go again. I remember we argued this over and over again when Angry Tom and the NDP were promising to "close loop-holes" during the last election. This is not a "loop hole", it's treating a stock option exercise the same way that a capital gain on a sale of stock is treated for tax purposes. The only reason its allowed is that it makes total sense from a taxation point of view, and the only reason anyone like the dunder-heads at the Canadians for Tax Fairness complain is the same reason they always complain, because they are jealous that no one sees any value in what they do (because there isn't) and so would never offer them an incentive via equity to be rewarded for what they do. So if they can't benefit, no one should. The socialist mantra. Things aren't fair until everyone is equal, and that means equally suffering.

Why does it make sense to allow CEO's to make two thirds of their annual salary in Stock options (as opposed to paying them the same way the rest of us get paid) purely and simply so they can pay less tax than they otherwise would on their six figure incomes?

People receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in this way are NOT In need of the special tax break such options afford them. Maybe, if the Government put a maximum on how much one can be paid annually via this method I would change my mind. But as it stands now it bugs me to see folks earning over $600,000 a year getting such a huge tax break on approximately two thirds of it.

I believe in tax fairness for ALL Canadians, which means all those earning a similar amount should be taxed at a similar level. Allowing certain groups to be paid in such a way that they pay a heck of a lot less than their salaried counterparts is just plain wrong.