Saturday, December 20, 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

B.C. to install earthquake warning sensors

B.C. to install earthquake warning sensors
A joint federal and provincial government announcement today says the sensors will give seconds, or perhaps tens of seconds, of warning before the strongest shaking arrives, helping to reduce injuries, deaths and property loss.

B.C. to install earthquake warning sensors

Canada offers four Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine

Canada offers four Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine
The four tanks that Canada is sending to Ukraine are being drawn from the Army’s current inventory of 82 Leopard 2s designed for battle, which former Army officers have said are already stretched thin.

Canada offers four Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine

No more home internet money for Tory, Liberal MPs

No more home internet money for Tory, Liberal MPs
A breakdown of recent expenses shows 31 Tory MPs have charged taxpayers for home internet services for either themselves or staff. The information was first reported by the National Post.     

No more home internet money for Tory, Liberal MPs

Liberals kick off their winter caucus retreat

Liberals kick off their winter caucus retreat
The federal party's caucus chair says their first priority is making life more affordable for Canadians, and MPs also want to build a green economy and address climate change. Brenda Shanahan says the retreat is critical because the 158 MPs haven't gotten together since before the holidays, and it's time for them to put forward fresh ideas.

Liberals kick off their winter caucus retreat

South Asian community health workers welcome new alcohol guide

South Asian community health workers welcome new alcohol guide
"Given the uniquely high risk of alcohol use issues and morbidity among South Asians, it is clear that a more focused and nuanced understanding of (alcohol use disorder) treatment in this (population) is necessary," says the review, which notes no North American studies focus specifically on South Asians in alcohol treatment settings.

South Asian community health workers welcome new alcohol guide

Nearly 500 B.C. staff hit by Canfor restructuring

Nearly 500 B.C. staff hit by Canfor restructuring
The Chetwynd closure is expected in April or May and the announcement came just two days after the mill reopened following a holiday curtailment, but a company statement says Canfor is "committed to supporting displaced employees," and where possible, it says they will top the list for hiring at other mills.

Nearly 500 B.C. staff hit by Canfor restructuring