Trudeau flying in and out of Bermuda Wednesday to deliver eulogy for Peter Green
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to attend the funeral of a close family friend, Peter Green, in Bermuda. The Trudeaus have had a longstanding relationship with the Green family, dating back to the 1970s. Pierre Trudeau, Justin’s father, was even the godfather to Peter Green’s son Alexander, who delivered a reading at Pierre’s funeral in Montréal. Additionally, Pierre spoke at the funeral of Peter Green’s wife in 1990, following her untimely death from cancer at the age of 38.
Over the years, the Trudeau family has maintained their friendship with the Greens, with a recent Christmas trip to Jamaica where they stayed at the renowned Prospect Estate resort near Ocho Rios, owned by Peter Green. The Prospect Estate has a rich history of hosting dignitaries such as Winston Churchill, Henry Kissinger, and Prince Phillip, who have all left their mark by planting trees on the estate in memory of their visit.
Initially, there was some controversy surrounding the Christmas trip, with reports suggesting that the Trudeau family received free accommodations worth up to $84,000. However, the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that they consulted with the ethics commissioner before the trip to ensure all rules were followed, as gifts and travel offered by friends or family are exceptions to the regulations governing MPs.
The ethics commissioner, Konrad von Finckenstein, remarked that the gift from the Greens was a generous gesture between friends and saw no issue with it. However, for their upcoming trip to Bermuda, the PMO stated that Trudeau will be paying for his personal travel and that of his family members accompanying him on the government plane, as he does not fly commercial for security reasons.
In terms of the costs incurred by taxpayers for the Jamaica trip, documents revealed that it amounted to $230,442, with the largest expense being $162,051 for the RCMP officers who accompanied the Trudeau family. The trip also faced additional costs due to mechanical issues with the Canadian Armed Forces plane, necessitating a second plane and crew to be sent to Jamaica.
In a heartwarming gesture, the Green family made a donation to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation in 2021, leading to the establishment of the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Scholarship in memory of their mother. This scholarship, part of the Foundation’s leadership program, provides funding for doctoral research, offering scholars up to $180,000 over three years to cover tuition fees, research expenses, and travel.
The relationship between the Trudeau and Green families continues to be a strong and enduring one, rooted in friendship and shared experiences over the years. Justin Trudeau’s presence at Peter Green’s funeral in Bermuda serves as a testament to the deep bond that exists between the two families.
