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

Slide keeps residents out of Campbell River condos

Slide keeps residents out of Campbell River condos
An evacuation order was issued for the properties in the 700 block of Island Highway South after the slides came down Tuesday. No one was hurt, but the mud and debris demolished a ground-level covered parking area behind one of the condos.    

Slide keeps residents out of Campbell River condos

More universities reviewing Turpel-Lafond degrees

More universities reviewing Turpel-Lafond degrees
The Indigenous Women's Collective says in a statement that the honours should be withdrawn because the former law professor "stole" the identity and lived experiences of Indigenous women.

More universities reviewing Turpel-Lafond degrees

Hootsuite lays off 7% of staff, names new CEO

Hootsuite lays off 7% of staff, names new CEO
Social media technology company Hootsuite Inc. is laying off seven per cent of its staff in its third job cut in the last year and replacing its chief executive. The Vancouver company says the latest round of layoffs amounts to about 70 people and is meant to position the business for the long term.    

Hootsuite lays off 7% of staff, names new CEO

B.C. officer remembered as genuine, dedicated

B.C. officer remembered as genuine, dedicated
Nelson Police Service Chief Const. Donovan Fisher announced Wade Tittemore's promotion at his funeral service today, saying they had already planned to move the constable up to their general investigation section before he died. Tittemore, who was 43, died while off duty when an avalanche rolled over him and a co-worker Jan. 9 while they were skiing in the backcountry in southeastern B.C.

B.C. officer remembered as genuine, dedicated

B.C. signs 'historic' deal with First Nation

B.C. signs 'historic' deal with First Nation
The agreement, signed Tuesday with the Blueberry River First Nations in northeastern B.C., includes a $200-million restoration fund and timelines for coming up with plans to manage watersheds and oil and gas activities in parts of the First Nations' claim area, which covers four per cent of the province.

B.C. signs 'historic' deal with First Nation

Minorities more educated but paid less: StatCan

Minorities more educated but paid less: StatCan
Statistics Canada reports that visible minorities are generally more likely than their white counterparts to earn a university degree but less likely to find a job that pays as well. Based on data from the 2021 and 2016 censuses show that two years after graduating, visible minorities reported lower employment earnings and lower rates of unionization and pension plan coverage.

Minorities more educated but paid less: StatCan