The rumour began on social media, and is rapidly gaining traction amidst the recent rash of public lynchings of politicians soaking up the sun in the little-latitudes this past Christmas season.
Guy Annable (The Capital Voice) posted a message on Facebook December 31 saying: “Touchdown in Barbados a Challenger 600 series (sic) no other flight info re security trip (sic) vip via folks (sic) Justin is in Barbados (sic) just landed for new years (sic).”
On December 31, Twitter users in Barbados began speculating that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was vacationing on the island, following the New Year’s Eve arrival of a Bombardier Challenger at Grantley Adams International Airport – similar to the model used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) VIP fleet to transport the PM and other official dignitaries on official government business.
Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister’s Office, told the Associated Free Press (AFP): “The Prime Minister has not travelled, he spent the holiday period with his family at home.” Vaillancourt did not specify whether the family was at the official residence at Rideau Cottage in the capital Ottawa, or the country residence of the prime minister, Harrington Lake.
Travel between Quebec and Ontario does not violate current health restrictions.
The story was reported December 2 in the Western Standard (WS).
[Interesting Read]
See Also:
(1) Media Busy Playing ‘Where’s Waldo?’
(3) A wealth tax would pay for three days of Ottawa’s spending
Did Trudeau travel internationally at Christmas of didn’t he? A huge public interest story and one that the public deserves to know the answer to.
Here, let me help. What percent of the CBC’s $1.5B taxpayer funded budget would be needed to cover return airfare and one night in a Barbados hotel be? Send a reporter to Grantley Adams International Airport and start asking questions. Believe me if Trudeau’s Challenger landed there people will know. Ask somebody, anybody. Ground maintenance, baggage handlers, tons of people will have knowledge, if it exists. Everybody has a phone with a camera, guaranteed there will be pictures of this Challenger if it was there, probably even with the tail registration number. If it was then offer a lousy hundred bucks and bingo, a date/time stamped photograph. Soooo simple, this is so Journalism 101. Confirming or denying it should be a top priority for any credible news organization. Heck, screw the CBC and their obscene budget, a small media like City News could handle the expense. Just do your jobs, media. Confirm or deny is all the public asks. It is your raison d’être is it not?