PM didn’t learn from last vacation-largesse fiasco

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This article was published 08/01/2024 (875 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

All leaders must possess self-awareness to be successful. Whether its politics, business or even professional sports, effective leaders need to know how they are seen by others, and when their words or actions erode the support of the people they lead.

But there is a fundamental challenge with self-awareness: those who lack it usually don’t know it.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presents an excellent case in point.

A news report by veteran national press gallery reporter Glen McGregor, published in the National Post, confirmed that over the holidays Trudeau and his family accepted free accommodations at an exclusive Jamaican oceanfront resort that costs roughly $9,300 per night.

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the Trudeaus paid nothing for their stay in a 5,000-square-foot villa at the Prospect Estate Resort near Ocho Rios, which is owned by the family of Peter Green, a Canadian businessman and longtime friend of the Trudeau family. The PMO said the prime minister reimbursed government some of the cost of the flight to Jamaica on a government jet, and got prior approval from the federal ethics commissioner about accepting the free accommodations.

None of that speaks to the real problem facing the prime minister: once again, Trudeau has accepted exorbitant freebies from rich friends that may be acceptable under ethics guidelines, but still qualify as scandalous in the court of public opinion.

You may remember this is not the first time Trudeau has been in this situation.

In 2016, following his decision to accept a free trip to a private island from the Aga Khan, Trudeau was rebuked by then-federal conflict of interest and ethics commissioner Mary Dawson for accepting gifts or “advantages” that could be perceived as an attempt to influence government business.

There is an exception in the guidelines that allows federal elected officials to accept gifts from close friends. However, Dawson noted the Aga Khan, while very familiar with Pierre Trudeau, was not that close to the current prime minister.

Being publicly flogged on an ethics violation would normally be sufficient to convince any political leader to avoid making the same mistake twice. Even if you didn’t have the self-awareness to avoid the problem in the first place.

Trudeau clearly failed to learn that even if accepting a gift is technically allowable under ethics guidelines, the symbolism of an elected official frolicking on a private beach in front of a palatial villa is inherently damaging to his political brand, and that of his party.

Given that Trudeau does not seem to possess that modicum of self-awareness, I would like to propose a mantra that he should repeat any time he gets a phone call from a friend offering five-star vacation opportunities: I will not, under any circumstances, take freebies from wealthy family friends, even if it is technically allowed by ethics and conflict-of-interest guidelines.

Perhaps his staff could have it printed on a laminated card that he could keep in his wallet. Or, maybe he’d even consider having it tattooed on the wrist of the hand he does not use to answer the phone.

Over my career covering politics, I have interviewed more than a few prime ministers and premiers. Sometimes it was when they were in office; sometimes, after they left politics. However, most of them shared an intrinsic ability to spot moral and ethical tiger traps before they stepped into the pit.

Some of these leaders refused to allow anyone to buy them a drink or a meal. In instances where I shared a refreshment or meal with some of these leaders, we always went Dutch.

Others talked about how they could have leased, at taxpayer expense, a luxury SUV as their primary vehicle, but opted instead for a smaller, less flashy ride to avoid any perception of privilege. Or, how they would turn down opportunities to visit someone’s private box at Canada Life Centre for concerts or hockey games, or accept invitations to Lake of the Woods cottages, just so they didn’t have to answer questions about it or provide fodder for their political enemies.

Not all of the leaders I have known were blessed with adequate self-awareness. You might remember a former Manitoba premier who regularly fled the jurisdiction to visit his luxury Costa Rica villa and who, upon re-entering Manitoba politics, bought a $3-million mansion on Wellington Crescent that wasn’t even in his riding.

Brian Pallister had zero self-awareness and consider how that ended up.

Sometimes, political leaders have just enough self-awareness to know that they need to be surrounded by people who can save them from making bad decisions. So, while they may not be able to tell on their own if something could blow up in their faces, they know enough to listen to the people who can see it coming.

We should be able to conclude that Trudeau is not surrounded by people who are either able or empowered to save him from himself.

In terms of self-awareness and right and wrong, it is truly the blind leading the blind.

dan.lett@winnipegfreepress.com