Two Greater Victoria councillors have come under fire for travelling outside the country in the midst of a pandemic.
Victoria Coun. Sharmarke Dubow posted a statement to Twitter Tuesday evening saying he B次元官网网址渕ade the poor choiceB次元官网网址� to travel to East Africa over the holidays and returned to Victoria Jan. 4. He said he is in a 14-day quarantine at a Vancouver hotel and will serve his council duties remotely.
B次元官网网址淚 had been planning and saving for this trip for years and returned to East Africa for the first time since I fled the civil war in Somalia in 1992 as a child,B次元官网网址� he wrote in the statement. B次元官网网址淚 saw family members I hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen in more than three decades.B次元官网网址�
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Dubow said he adhered to local public health guidelines while away and took multiple COVID-19 tests.
B次元官网网址淓ven with the extreme caution that I took, including the tests I paid for, I know now that I should not have gone. I understand there is no good excuse.B次元官网网址�
Metchosin Coun. Kyara Kahakauwila has also acknowledged travelling outside of the country.
Kahakauwila, who owns L.A. Limousines chauffeur service, told Black Press Media that she spent time in Mexico during the beginning of December for the wedding of a business and industry partner, which was planned about a year ago.
ALSO READ: Metchosin councillor travelled to Mexico in December
She confirmed that she and her husband left on Dec. 1 and arrived back at home on Dec. 9 to quarantine. Kahakauwila pointed out that their two sons stayed with family members for two weeks while they isolated at their Metchosin home.
B次元官网网址淲ith the pandemic, our business has been decimated,B次元官网网址� said Kahakauwila. B次元官网网址淲hile some might not consider it as an excuse, there was a real possibility that we could lose our business. We made the decision to go because we had a plan in place and I made sure I didnB次元官网网址檛 have any council responsibilities during that time.B次元官网网址�
Several Canadian politicians have admitted to travelling abroad over the holidays including seven Alberta cabinet members, MLAs and staff who resigned as a result.
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