Here's How Justin Trudeau's Hotel Quarantine Experience Was Different From Most Canadians'

After a busy trip to the U.K. for the 2021 G7 leaders' summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is back home in Canada and preparing to quarantine for two weeks.

While Trudeau and his team were required to follow all of Canada's travel restrictions for incoming air passengers upon their return, some aspects of their experience have been a little different.

The tests

Canada's current travel rules require all incoming air passengers to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 72 hours of the individual's scheduled departure.

However, according to reports, the PM and his team were tested nine times for COVID-19 in the days before they returned to Canada — eight more than is required for ordinary passengers!

The hotel

Per the feds' border restrictions, all incoming air travellers are also required to quarantine in a government-approved hotel until their post-arrival COVID-19 test comes back negative.

While Trudeau and other officials did check into a hotel upon their arrival in Canada, it was not one of the pre-approved hotels that all other travellers are expected to use.

This is because the group flew into Ottawa International Airport, which remains closed to all non-essential international flights right now.

For this reason, there are no designated quarantine hotels in the Ottawa region.

The wait

Incoming air travellers entering Canada must book and pay for a mandatory three-night hotel stopover before they arrive in the country.

Passengers must then remain at the hotel while they await arrival test results, but can check out as soon as their test results return (providing the result is negative).

According to reports, Trudeau was able to check out from his hotel just 12 hours after checking in, as his COVID-19 test result returned so quickly.

While the team followed the same protocol as other incoming passengers, the PM is still facing criticism from other federal officials.

The criticism

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner took to Twitter to accuse the PM of "charging taxpayers for special treatment for himself."

Responding to the news that Trudeau was able to check out after just 12 hours, she added, "These test results wouldn't have been processed by the same overloaded facilities in YYZ, YVR, YYC and YUL because no international flights are allowed in YOW."

Other Twitter users noted that the federal government's expert COVID-19 panel has recommended scrapping the mandatory hotel quarantine altogether, with one person describing Trudeau's hotel stay as "meaningless theatrics."

The prime minister is set to complete his final mandatory 14-day quarantine period at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where he will continue to work from home.