Can’t shake it off: Why Canada’s Harjit Sajjan is facing flak for his Taylor Swift concert tickets

One could compare getting Taylor Swift concert tickets to winning a lottery. The coveted concert has her fans, aka, Swifties paying hundreds even thousands of dollars for a chance to see the Eras tour.

But for Canadian federal minister Harjit Sajjan, the price tag for these coveted tickets has sparked a heated debate. Allegedly paid for with taxpayer money, the tickets were used by the Sajjan and his daughter, igniting a storm of criticism.

The Indian-origin minister, however, stood his ground, saying his tickets were already paid for by a partially government-funded charity.

Here’s a closer look into the unfolding controversy.

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What happened?

Harjit Sajjan, head of the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, will attend Taylor Swift’s concert at BC Place in Vancouver over the weekend as a guest of PavCo.

PavCo, a Crown corporation in British Columbia, owns and operates BC Place Stadium, the venue for Swift’s three sold-out concerts.

According to the corporation, around 40 guests, including government officials and business partners, were hosted in a suite at each concert. Guests were also encouraged to make a “significant donation” to food banks and other charitable organisations, PavCo stated.

As part of the fundraising initiative, Sajjan donated $1,500 to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank before accepting the free tickets.

“This is actually supporting a very good cause, something that Taylor Swift also supports as well,” the minister told reporters on Wednesday.

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Notably, many politicians including BC Premier David Eby and Tourism Minister Chandra Herbert — the province that gives PavCo more money than the feds— and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim were offered free tickets, but none of them accepted it.

Sim’s office clarified the mayor’s stance in a statement: “While tickets were offered to (the mayor), he declined and personally purchased tickets for himself, his family and friends.”

Opposition lashes out at Sajjan

Conservative MP Michael Barrett didn’t hold back in his criticism of Harjit Sajjan’s decision to accept the tickets, labelling it “absolutely unacceptable.”

“The minister should be buying his own tickets,” Barrett was quoted by CBC News as saying. “He’s only receiving that gift because of who he is and his access to the prime minister … It’s absolutely inappropriate.”

Barrett further argued that if Sajjan wanted to contribute to charity, it should be for the right reasons. “He should do it because it’s the right thing to do, not to get himself out of some kind of ethical conundrum.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh echoed similar sentiments. “Given the cost-of-living crisis we’re in right now, the idea that the minister would get two free tickets — taxpayer-funded tickets — is concerning and it shows a lack of judgment,” Singh stated.

Neil McArthur, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, also questioned Sajjan’s decision.

“Politicians have to use their judgment and realise that just because something is not against the rules in a technical sense, there may be either a perception of wrongdoing or actual inappropriateness,” McArthur told B.C. Today. “I think in both cases this applies here.”

Sajjan says he had notified the Ethics Commissioner

Amid widespread criticism, Harjit Sajjan defended his decision, stating that he had sought approval from Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner before accepting the tickets.

Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan defends accepting taxpayer-funded tickets to a Taylor Swift concert in B.C. for himself and his daughter. pic.twitter.com/OnPfHjOGPK

— Juno News (@junonewscom) December 4, 2024

According to CBC News, the commissioner clarified that a donation made in place of payment for an item would not be classified as a gift under the Conflict of Interest Act.

Sajjan’s office confirmed that he accepted the tickets only after receiving clearance from the commissioner.

The minister also revealed that his family had initially purchased four tickets for Swift’s concert in Toronto but later sold them at cost, opting instead to attend the Vancouver show.

“I’m actually very happy to be able to raise money and create greater awareness for the food bank,” he stated.