The Sussexes have decided to make Canada their home for part of the year after quitting the Royal Family and are renting a property in Victoria, on Vancouver Island. However, the question of who should pay for their 24-hours security costs has still not been resolved and is threatening to become a serious political headache for the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. The security costs for Meghan, Harry and Archie are estimated to be around at least £1 million per year, and it was initially understood that Mr Trudeau had reassured the Queen that Canada would pay part of those costs.
This provoked a swift response from a lobby group called the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who circulated a petition calling on Mr Trudeau to refuse all requests for public funds to cover the Sussexes security arrangements.
At the time of the launch, Aaron Wudrick, the organisation’s federal director, said: “Canadians are pleased to welcome the Duke and Duchess to Canada — but have made it crystal clear that taxpayers should not be forced to support them while they are living here.
“All Canadians wish them well as they realize their ambition of financial independence."
The petition was signed by 80,000 within days of its launch and has now almost reached the 100,000 mark.
In a recent update, the petition’s organisers sent a circular urging supporters to spread the word and help push the numbers above 100,000.
They write: “Dear Supporter,
“We delivered the first 80,000 signatures of our petition to the prime minister demanding that taxpayers not be forced to pay the bills for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“But a strange thing has happened (aside from media from all over the world reporting on our petition): people keep signing.
JUST IN: Harry and Meghan's handouts from Charles can't cover home costs
“Can you take two minutes to send him an email at Justin.Trudeau@parl.gc.ca and tell him to say NO to taxpayer subsidies for Meghan and Harry.
“Thank you again for all you do!”
Last Tuesday, Mr Trudeau was forced to deny that he had made any private assurances to the British monarch to cover part of Meghan and Harry’s security costs.
He told reporters: “I have not spoken to Her Majesty directly.
“Discussions continue to be ongoing and I have no updates at this moment.”
A source close to the royal couple revealed that Harry and Meghan were considering following Tony Blair’s example, when it comes to paying for their own security.
The former Prime Minister, who is entitled to a security allowance of £115,000 per year, pays back a part of those costs, when engaged on commercial trips.
The official said: “Tony Blair reimburses at least part of his security costs on commercial trips.
“There is an arrangement for that in place. Harry and Meghan intend to do the same for private trips.”
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January 30, 2020 at 08:31AM
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Royal fury: Meghan and Harry dealt another blow as Canada continues security cost crusade - Express
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