THUNDER BAY – The office of Health Minister Patty Hadju acknowledged she used a government aircraft to fly from Ottawa to Thunder Bay four times during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A spokesperson for Hajdu on Wednesday said she spent a total of 13 days in Thunder Bay working on constituency issues, and 79 in the nation’s capital working on parliamentary obligations and other government business, between March and May.
The health minister’s travel schedule was questioned in an article in Blacklock's Reporter, an Ottawa-based online website focusing on the House of Commons.
The site accuses Hajdu of hypocritical actions, saying she made the trips to Thunder Bay “even while telling the public: ‘Do not go visit your family, do not visit your friends, do not go out and about unless it’s essential.'”
Hajdu represents Thunder Bay-Superior North for the Liberals.
Her spokesperson justified the use of a government aircraft. saying options were limited at the time.
“The minister followed all public health guidelines from Thunder Bay District Health Unit while at home in Thunder Bay. Flying is the only realistic option for her to travel to Ottawa because of the location of her home in her riding of Thunder Bay -Superior North,” the spokesperson said.
“Due to a decrease in available commercial flights as a result of the pandemic, and most importantly to exercise a high degree of caution, Minister Hajdu travelled on a Transport Canada aircraft.”
Neither staff nor family accompanied Hajdu, who travelled solo on the flights.
Hajdu was not the only politician to fly the friendly skies at the taxpayer’ expense during the crisis.
“Throughout the pandemic, the government has also provided transportation by aircraft to opposition members of Parliament and senators in order to perform their parliamentary functions,” the spokesperson said.
