OTTAWA — Grocery expenses for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau topped an average of $1,515 per week billed to taxpayers, according to newly released documents.
That works out to $157,642 in household food expenses over a two-year period — $76,214 in 2021-22 and $81,428 in 2022-23, the most recent years in which records were available from the Privy Council Office.
“It’s one thing for the prime minister to bill taxpayers for government business, but taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for a single cent of the prime minister’s personal groceries,” said Franco Terrazzano, of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who uncovered the documents.
“The current policy needs to change, the government needs to improve transparency on this spending, and anyone who wants to be the next prime minister needs to commit to not billing taxpayers for their personal groceries.”
The records state those totals also include events hosted at both residences, but provided no details on what those events were and when they took place.
The records state $188,864.45 was spent on household groceries at the PM’s two main residences — Rideau Cottage and Harrington Lake — over those two years, but that Trudeau reimbursed $31,221.57 of that cost.
After reimbursements, 2021-22 saw $76,214.76 spent on groceries, and $81,428.12 spent in 2022-23.
“As per a longstanding practice since 1985, the prime minister reimburses amounts related to food based on Statistics Canada data on household spending, which is adjusted using the consumer price index to account for inflation,” a note on the records release states.
Dalhousie University’s 2023 Food Price Report suggests Canadian households spent $288 weekly on groceries in 2022 and 2023 — five times less than what the PM expensed taxpayers.
Based on a 44-hour work week, the average Canadian wage in 2022 was $73,147.36, according to Statistics Canada.
In comparison, the prime minister earns $406,200 annually.
Previous reporting on the topic revealed that Trudeau’s grocery bills from 2015 to March 2022 cost $345,230, an average of $57,538 annually.
Those same records show former PM Stephen Harper billed taxpayers $417,745 between 2007 and 2015, an average of $52,218 a year,
Household expenses weren’t kept by the Privy Council Office prior to 2006.
The prime minister’s family meals are prepared at off-site kitchens by his personal chef and delivered to Rideau Cottage.
The PM’s meals were prepared at the kitchens at 24 Sussex Dr. until the dilapidated official residence was condemned in 2022 due to hazardous conditions.
The National Capital Commission refuses to disclose where the prime minister’s kitchens were moved to.
“The fact that Trudeau spent more on food than what the average Canadian worker makes in an entire year is outrageous,” Terrazzano said.
“Here’s a crazy idea: How about the prime minister pays for their own groceries like everyone else.”
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