Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan did not attend the Taylor Swift concert in Vancouver, which he was scheduled to attend using free tickets he received from BC Crown, his spokesperson told CBC News on Monday.
A spokesperson said after facing intense criticism for accepting tickets for herself and her family to the popular event, Sajjan decided it was best not to go at all.
A spokesperson said Sajjan returned the tickets on Friday to BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo), the provincial entity that owns BC Place Stadium, where Swift performed over the weekend.
A spokesperson said Mr Sajjan had given Pubco enough time to find someone to attend in his place.
Sajjan told the federal ethics commission, which initially authorized him to receive the free ticket, that he would not attend. Sajjan donated $1,500 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in lieu of the ticket price, but is not requesting a refund of the donation, a spokesperson said.
PavCo donated Swift tickets to food banks and other charities so they could raffle them off to raise money. The suite was also auctioned off, raising more than $1 million, the company said.
Pubco expected the politicians and business leaders it invited to make “significant donations” to food banks in exchange for free tickets to the concert, the company said.
That was Sajjan’s initial justification for accepting the free ticket. He told reporters that funds raised from Swift’s ticket distribution will be donated to worthy charities.
Harjit Sajjan said he received the tickets because BC Crown corporation PavCo supports food banks through ticket donations.
“This actually supports a very good cause, and one that Taylor Swift supports as well,” Sajjan told reporters last week.
“I’m actually really happy to be able to raise money and awareness for the food bank.”
Meanwhile, the opposition Conservative Party slammed the decision to accept Mr Sajjan’s ticket, saying it was “absolutely unacceptable” for a minister of the Crown to accept such a gift.
Swift’s Ellas Tour, which began in March 2023 and was viewed by millions of people around the world, wrapped up in Vancouver on Sunday night.
“I think that’s the lasting legacy of this tour, the fact that you guys created so much space and joy and togetherness and love,” Swift told fans in Vancouver.
