Were it not for the stupidity around the topic of official residences and perks, Canada would have an official residence where its leader could welcome people, instead of living in a guesthouse on the head of state’s property while the residence rots and crumbles.
It’s actually not the fault of the pols...they just do whatever they know will work up the lumpen base. It’s the fault of jealous, smallminded voters. The pols just read them and feed their heads, and the MSM delights in helping. This is not the case in Europe or the U.S. Why?
I remember Helmut Kohl’s plane back in the Nineties. It truly was a flying Taj Mahal. Mulroney’s plane was a Cessna by comparison. I’ve seen the Italian president’s digs in Rome. Stupendous. Americans are just fine with the WH and Camp David.
But in Canada, we get excited about a “2.5 million dollar mansion.” There are several houses in the west end of Ottawa worth that. And the PM and Opposition leaders are just temporary tenants. Honestly.