Top two PMO aides apologize for controversy over moving expenses

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s two top aides have decided to repay a portion of the $207,000 in expenses they incurred in moving to Ottawa from Toronto.

Chief of staff Katie Telford and principal secretary Gerald Butts say they followed all the rules but don’t feel comfortable about some of the relocation costs to which they were entitled.

Both will reimburse the government for miscellaneous moving expenses — $23,373 for Telford and $20,299 for Butts.

Butts also says he will further reimburse $25,141 for the land transfer tax associated with his family’s new Ottawa home.