The spectacle of Canadian politicians flouting travel restrictions has brought an already unloved profession into outright disrepute.
As of the latest count, five Liberal MPs have travelled abroad since the COVID-19 outbreak began, several of whom lost their roles on various parliamentary committees upon return.
Conservative MP David Sweet gave up his position as chair of the House ethics committee (of all things) after vacationing in the U.S.
Ron Liepert, another Conservative MP, has twice travelled to the Palm Desert in California, to deal with what his staff call “essential house maintenance issues.” Apparently there are no maintenance firms in the vicinity who could have done what was needed.
NDP MP Niki Ashton lost her shadow cabinet roles after travelling to Greece.
Senate Opposition Leader Don Plett vacationed in Mexico over the Christmas break.
Six MLAs from Alberta holidayed abroad, one of whom, laughably, was parliamentary secretary for civil society.
In Ontario, Finance Minister Rod Philips was called home from a vacation in St. Barts by Premier Doug Ford, and summarily fired on the spot.
And a member of the Quebec National Assembly has been stripped of his shadow cabinet positions for vacationing in Barbados.
Of course it’s not just politicians who carry on like this. A hospital CEO in Ontario has been fired after it became known he’d holidayed in the Caribbean. Notably though, he left with a million-dollar payout.
Yet it’s holders of public office we are entitled to expect most from, and none more so than local politicians whose ties to the community are closest.
As readers will know, two municipal councillors in Greater Victoria recently vacationed abroad after the province had discouraged non-essential travel. (A third, Coun. Heather Gartshore from North Saanich, travelled to Seattle, but argued it was before cross-border trips were discouraged.)
Victoria Coun. Sharmarke Dubow visited his native Somalia in December, and a Metchosin councillor, Kyara Kahakauwila, travelled to Mexico.
Dubow at least had the grace to apologize for his trip, but Kahakauwila isn’t backing down.
She defended her visit on the grounds that “travelling is not illegal — it’s discouraged.”
And she also argued that her situation is different because she is not setting provincial health policy or advising people not to travel.
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns completed this excursion into the twilight zone by covering for her. As he put it, Kahakauwila “has never set herself up as an example that should be followed.” Neither, apparently, has Ranns.
Now it’s nothing new to see politicians indulge in some form of “do as I say, not as I do.”
But stupidity and tone-deafness are one thing. Claiming, as an elected official, that you don’t consider yourself an example that should be followed opens a new chapter in the debasement of politics.
Someone who runs for public office is absolutely promising to be a model citizen. It comes with the job. It is indeed what the job is all about.
Kahakauwila said that she had a wedding to attend and business matters to look after. She said her chauffeur service, L.A. Limousines, is struggling.
Hasn’t she been reading the news? Wedding celebrations here in B.C. are limited to no more than 10 attendees.
And small businesses are suffering across the province. What makes Kahakauwila different?
The essential point is this: While there will always be youngsters willing to pull a dumb stunt, we expect more from elected officials.
Government is based on a contract between those who hold office, and those they represent.
When members of the public break that contract, they face penalties. When office holders do the same, there likewise have to be consequences.
Though Dubow offered an apology, it came after the event. We’ve seen too many of these “sorry I got caught” confessions. Dubow should resign.
So too should Kahakauwila, and Ranns should have second thoughts about acting as her apologist.
