But shortly after calling on Canadians to "stay home" and "Skype that big family dinner," Trudeau crossed the provincial border from Ottawa into Quebec to visit his wife and three children at Harrington Lake.
Harrington Lake is the name of a federally designated heritage building maintained by the National Capital Commission that serves as the country residence of Canadian prime ministers.
While only a half-hour drive from Ottawa, getting to the residence requires crossing the provincial border into Quebec, something police recently set up checkpoints in a bid to limit.
Trudeau defended the travel when questioned by journalists on Tuesday at his daily briefing.
"After three weeks of my family living up at Harrington and me working here, I went to join them for Easter weekend. We continue to follow all the instructions from public health authorities," he said.
"Yes, but did somebody tell you this was OK?" asked the journalist.
"All over social media, people are wondering why this exception was OK for you, why it was OK for you to go see your family at the cottage."
"My family has been living there for three weeks," Trudeau repeated. "This is where my wife and my children live."
