Even a queen’s death is full of scandal in Canada

Even the Queen’s death leads to scandals in this country. Are we surprised?

First, the drama over who would and who wouldn’t get a day off on Monday. Why did federal employees and certain provincial/territorial employees get a holiday? It was a country divided.

For the most part, people simply wanted a day off. I’ve written about the idea of holidays, namely Victoria Day, and if people really pause and recognize the day for what it’s supposed to be about or just see it as a day off.

Speaking with friends who had to work on Monday, most didn’t understand a full day off because the funeral started early in the morning and technically could’ve been watched before most people had to go to work. Moreover, it could’ve been recorded and watched later in the day.

For me, I follow an American work schedule because of my radio programming in that country, so it didn’t matter to me because I was up at 2 a.m. in West Hollywood following celebrity tweets throughout the day.

Nevertheless, the division between government workers and common folk had people up in arms and wondering why there appear to be different classes in society.

Which brings us to the prime minister and his inspiring vocals on Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody as captured in a viral video from a hotel lobby in the U.K. If you haven’t seen the video, Justin Trudeau is standing at a piano singing some lines from the classic song days before the funeral. He is participating in a sing-along with unidentified people. Trudeau’s office later confirmed it was the Canadian contingent.

The optics are bad, sure. Should the leader of a country act that way in public on the almost-eve of the world’s biggest funeral? Probably not.

Then again, there are people who said a grown man should be able to do whatever he wants on his own time. When you’re a prime minister on a work trip — read that as: on the taxpayer dime — should there be the expectation that there is no “fun stuff” during a funeral visit?

The prime minister’s office reminded that Trudeau had spent 10 days honouring the Queen and her service. (Though, I wouldn’t expect less from a team tasked with defending and spinning his every word and action.)

The other big story was Lisa LaFlamme’s return to TV after her ousting from CTV this summer. This one was good because it was wonderful to see LaFlamme in her element and truly caring about the story she was covering. Of all the choices on Monday morning, I was tuned into the CityNews feed in California.

Hearing LaFlamme’s knowledge, memories and sheer emotion while reporting is everything viewers loved about her over the years. I appreciated her being there and it sounds like a lot of fellow Canadians did, too.