All of Chilliwack council has now confirmed they stayed close to home for the holidays and did not travel.
Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove sent a statement saying he’s been acting in accordance with provincial health recommendations by opting not to travel anywhere outside of the Lower Mainland since Dec. 18.
The mayor’s email was in response to queries about any holiday travel taken by Chilliwack council members posed by the Chilliwack Progress.
“I also postponed Christmas travel and family get-together plans in accordance with the orders and recommendations from Dr. Henry,” Popove said. “My wife and I typically spend every Christmas in Sun Peaks, but this year we chose to stay home and cancelled our annual trip.”
Chilliwack City councillors, Sue Knott, Jason Lum, Bud Mercer and Jeff Shields also confirmed, when asked, that they did not travel over the Christmas break, said Jamie Leggatt, City of Chilliwack spokesperson.
Couns. Christ Kloot and Harv Westeringh did not respond when first asked by Jan. 7, but in a follow-up question both said they stayed close to home, only enjoying some outdoor activities with close family.
Elected officials defying recommendations not to take out-of-country vacations have been making post-holiday headlines.
A Victoria city councillor apologized for the “poor choice” he made to travel to East Africa over the holidays. The Victoria mayor noted in response that there could not be two sets of expectations – one for the public and another for elected officials, and that community leaders are held to a higher standard.
READ MORE: Victoria councillor says ‘I should not have gone’
RELATED: Mayor grilled about trip to U.S. in March
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