It Is What It Is

  Being the Prime Minister of Canada is a very prestigious job. You are the leader of the greatest country in the world. Wherever you go other leaders respect and admire you and the country you lead. So why is it we, the people of Canada, are so up in arms about PM Trudeau's Christmas vacation and how much it costs? It drives me crazy.

  First off, the PM is never "off duty". The official cell phone doesn't get turned off for a week. Events happen that need to be addressed. Natural disasters. Coups. Terrorist attacks. Not everything needs a response from the PM but it is important that he/she is aware of what is happening in the world. And not just from CBC News or CNN. That means people. Lots of people.

  So who does need to travel with the Prime Minister? I'm sure there is an aide. Someone from the Press Office I suppose. There is military personnel too....flight crew and maybe a technician or two. And of course security. At least three shifts of security. That's twenty people. At least.

  Those people need hotel rooms and food. They need plane tickets, rental cars and taxi fare. Like all government employees they get money for incidentals incurred from travel. All of this adds up. Sometimes into the tens of thousands of dollars. Or more. We may not like it but these are the costs of having a leader.

  All the people I've listed are essential to our leader being informed and protected. Wherever the PM goes they go. Even when it's a family vacation. We need to accept that and move on. Wasting valuable time and resources discussing and analyzing it won't change the fact that if PM Trudeau goes away this year at Christmas those same people, and maybe even more, will have to go too.

  Personally I think folks are a little jealous that he got out of the cold and snow and hung out on a private island. Without long waits at airport security and lots of leg room on the flight. I know I am! 

  In the famous words of Erich Fried..."It is what it is". Now live with it.

  Ang