Two Liberal MPs sanctioned after trips to the United States

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Two Liberal MPs sanctioned after trips to the United States (1)
Two Liberal MPs sanctioned after trips to the United States

Two Liberal:

Two Liberal MPs had to relinquish some of their positions after traveling to the United States over the holiday season.

Pierrefonds-Dollard MP Sameer Zuberi announced on Sunday that he was stepping down from parliamentary committees on which he served.

Zuberi admitted to having “erred in judgment” after traveling to the United States to see his wife’s grandfather, whose health had deteriorated.

The MP was a member of the justice and human rights committee and the standing joint committee for the review of regulations.

Kamal Khera, meanwhile, stepped down as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development after traveling to Seattle, United States, over the holiday season.

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The Brampton West, Ont., MP says she flew to Seattle on December 23 to attend a small memorial service for her uncle and father, who died weeks apart earlier in the year.

She says she returned to Canada on December 31.

Government whip Mark Holland said in a statement that the two elected officials left the country without notifying him.

According to the NDP, only MP Niki Ashton has traveled outside of Canada. She was sanctioned for stepping down from her position in the shadow cabinet.

Bloc Québécois whip Claude DeBellefeuille said no member of her party had left Canada since the start of the pandemic, saying in a statement that she had banned them from international travel.

The office of Conservative leader Erin O’Toole did not respond directly to a question about MPs and party employees who have allegedly left Canada since the beginning of December.

“Since taking office, Mr. O’Toole has continued to emphasize the need for all caucus members to follow all public health guidelines, including travel advice,” said the spokesperson. Chelsea Tucker in an email. We understand that all of the caucus members did. “