Justin Trudeau defends taxpayer-financed nannies

Prime Minister JustinTrudeauhas defended using tax dollars to pay for two nannies, insisting he is only shuffling the household budget to suit his young family.

"Obviously it will come as no surprise to people that we have a different family situation with three small children than the Harpers did," he said during a news conference in Ottawa Wednesday."That means we will operate within the same family budget that the previous prime minister had, but we will shuffle it around so that it fits better our priorities.

"And that is what Canadians expect."

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Trudeauwas grilled during question periodby Ontario Conservative MP KarenVecchio, who said she was "offended" that one of the PM's first acts was to take up a benefit no other Canadian receives.

She accused Trudeau of saying one thing during the campaign andthen doing another after his election.

"Why didn't the prime minister keep his word, and is it because he's entitled to his entitlements?" she asked.

The "entitlements" phrase was a reference to well-publicized remarksfromRoyal Mint CEOand former JeanChrtien cabinet ministerDavid Dingwall in 2005 during testimonybefore a committeeabout his questionable expenses.

2 nannies hired by Trudeaus

Trudeauhas come under fire for having taxpayers foot the billfor two nannies hired to care for the children ofTrudeauand his wife,SophieGrgoire-Trudeau.

CBC News reported on thecabinet orders that wereposted onlineauthorizingthe appointment of thetwo women under the Official Residences Act as "special assistants at the prime minister's residence."

They were to bepaid between $15 and $20 an hour during the dayand $11 to $13 an hour for night shifts effective Nov. 4, thedayTrudeauand his cabinet were sworn in.

The revelation came afterTrudeaurepeatedly attacked the Conservatives' enhanced universal child care benefit during the election campaign, maintaining that"wealthyfamilies" like his didn't need taxpayers' help.

Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose said the "rich" Trudeau family should pay for their own nannies, whileConservative finance critic Lisa Raittaccused Trudeau of being "hypocritical."

Prime Minister Trudeau responds to questions about how his childcare is paid for

9 years ago

Duration 0:30

Trudeau was speaking to reporters at his year end news conference