Friday, December 19, 2025
ADVT 
National

PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Mar, 2023 05:07 PM
  • PM stayed in $6k London suite for royal funeral

OTTAWA - The Prime Minister's Office says Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, stayed in a $6,000 per night hotel suite while attending the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.

The stay at the Corinthia London hotel became the subject of public debate last fall when media honed in on the details of the $400,000 trip, after obtaining documents through access-to-information requests.

But Trudeau's office and Global Affairs Canada did not respond to questions last month about who stayed in the expensive river suite, which features a butler service.

Opposition MPs on the government operations committee asked for a copy of all receipts and invoices associated with the trip last month.

The room was booked on Sept. 9, one day after the Queen's death, for Sept. 15 to 20.

In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office says hotel prices surged significantly ahead of the funeral, and many London hotels were sold out as 500 heads of state and their delegations descended on the city.

The hotel's website currently lists the suite at 5,154 British pounds per night, higher than the 4,800 pounds the government was charged in September.

A night in the river suite next month would come out to more than $8,000 at the current exchange rate.

The Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to questions about the higher prices and why the government chose this particular hotel.

Documents released through access-to-information requests note that the booking was for a three-bed suite. The hotel's website says it has one king-sized bed but there are "connecting rooms available on request."

In November, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre peppered Trudeau with questions in the House of Commons about who stayed in the suite, but he didn't answer.

"The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a significant event for Canadians. Canada was represented by former prime ministers and governors general to pay their respects to the monarch who oversaw almost half of Canada’s time as an independent country," said a press secretary for Trudeau in a written statement Thursday.

MORE National ARTICLES

GM to invest US$650 million in Lithium Americas

GM to invest US$650 million in Lithium Americas
Lithium is a key component in batteries used by electric vehicles. In the first tranche of the investment deal, GM spend US$320 million for 15 million shares or a 9.999 per cent stake in Lithium Americas.

GM to invest US$650 million in Lithium Americas

Decriminalization starts as OD death data released

Decriminalization starts as OD death data released
Health Canada approved B.C.'s application for decriminalization through an exemption from federal drug laws so people 18 and over could carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as crack and powdered cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. Users will not be arrested or have their drugs seized by police in what is a three-year pilot project.    

Decriminalization starts as OD death data released

Fraser Valley bus drivers give strike notice

Fraser Valley bus drivers give strike notice
The union has 213 members including drivers, utility workers, bus washers and mechanics. It says the two sides have engaged in more than 20 days of bargaining since talks began in late spring 2022.

Fraser Valley bus drivers give strike notice

Roller-coaster at West Edmonton Mall to be removed

Roller-coaster at West Edmonton Mall to be removed
The Mindbender was known as the world's tallest and longest indoor, triple-loop roller-coaster. In 1986, three people were killed on the roller-coaster, which forced the mall to shut it down for a year for safety modifications.

Roller-coaster at West Edmonton Mall to be removed

Federal departments failed to spend $38B last year

Federal departments failed to spend $38B last year
Canada rang up a $90.2 billion deficit — $23.6 billion less than had been projected in the budget. The unprecedented amount of lapsed funding, much of which has been returned to the federal treasury, has one observer suggesting it is a sign of long-standing challenges delivering on big federal projects for the country.

Federal departments failed to spend $38B last year

Add some Zoom to Nexus trusted travel: congressman

Add some Zoom to Nexus trusted travel: congressman
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), a frequent champion of streamlined travel between Canada and the United States, introduced legislation on Capitol Hill that, if passed, would require the Department of Homeland Security to deploy video conferencing to replace in-person interviews.

Add some Zoom to Nexus trusted travel: congressman