A Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) bureaucrat and part-time “beauty, fashion, and travel influencer” says she is sorry for ignoring guidelines and travelling to Jamaica in November..It was reported Dominique Baker, who is the acting manager of the Office of Border and Travel Health (OBHS), accepted an all-expenses-paid holiday to Jamaica courtesy of Air Canada Vacations in November – despite the fact that PHAC had been advising Canadians since March 2020 to avoid non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic..Baker flew with a friend to the upscale, all-inclusive Royalton Blue Waters resort in Montego Bay in mid-November, reported the Globe and Mail..Baker, posted a video on social media shortly after arriving, calling the hotel suite with its own infinity pool “mind-blowing – whoa.”.“One of our two butlers is bringing us our pina coladas right now. No, we are not kidding – we have two butlers,” she gushed, “Thank you, Air Canada Vacations. We are beside ourselves.”.Iain Stewart, president of PHAC says it is “unacceptable” that one of the agency’s managers ignored advice and vacationed in Jamaica last fall, and although the trip taken by Baker was not related to her work for the federal agency, its employees are expected to heed public health advice not to travel, reports CBC News..Baker has now issued an apology on social media..“I’ve been reflecting on my trip to Jamaica last fall, especially with the current media coverage. While there were comprehensive precautions in place to keep people safe, the timing was not right and I should not have gone. I acknowledge this and urge anyone thinking of getting away this winter to wait until the pandemic is over. Follow the public health advice and do not travel right now,” Baker said..Baker’s apology follows in the wake of public criticism of numerous politicians apologizing for travelling abroad during the Christmas holiday season..Baker has two problems – ignoring her agency’s travel guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the possible ethics violation resulting from accepting a benefit from Air Canada while being in a position to make decisions affecting the airline..Stewart did not say whether PHAC would be asking the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to investigate Baker..Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com
A Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) bureaucrat and part-time “beauty, fashion, and travel influencer” says she is sorry for ignoring guidelines and travelling to Jamaica in November..It was reported Dominique Baker, who is the acting manager of the Office of Border and Travel Health (OBHS), accepted an all-expenses-paid holiday to Jamaica courtesy of Air Canada Vacations in November – despite the fact that PHAC had been advising Canadians since March 2020 to avoid non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic..Baker flew with a friend to the upscale, all-inclusive Royalton Blue Waters resort in Montego Bay in mid-November, reported the Globe and Mail..Baker, posted a video on social media shortly after arriving, calling the hotel suite with its own infinity pool “mind-blowing – whoa.”.“One of our two butlers is bringing us our pina coladas right now. No, we are not kidding – we have two butlers,” she gushed, “Thank you, Air Canada Vacations. We are beside ourselves.”.Iain Stewart, president of PHAC says it is “unacceptable” that one of the agency’s managers ignored advice and vacationed in Jamaica last fall, and although the trip taken by Baker was not related to her work for the federal agency, its employees are expected to heed public health advice not to travel, reports CBC News..Baker has now issued an apology on social media..“I’ve been reflecting on my trip to Jamaica last fall, especially with the current media coverage. While there were comprehensive precautions in place to keep people safe, the timing was not right and I should not have gone. I acknowledge this and urge anyone thinking of getting away this winter to wait until the pandemic is over. Follow the public health advice and do not travel right now,” Baker said..Baker’s apology follows in the wake of public criticism of numerous politicians apologizing for travelling abroad during the Christmas holiday season..Baker has two problems – ignoring her agency’s travel guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the possible ethics violation resulting from accepting a benefit from Air Canada while being in a position to make decisions affecting the airline..Stewart did not say whether PHAC would be asking the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to investigate Baker..Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com
