Sponsored travel by MPs remained low in 2021 for a second year: Report

​​NE​WS RELEASE 

Ottawa, March 3, 2022

​​Today, the List of Sponsored Travel 2021 prepared by Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion was tabled in the House of Commons. 

The list is an annual compilation of all domestic and international travel worth more than $200 taken by Members of Parliament and their guests and whose costs are not fully paid by the government, a political party, a recognized parliamentary association or by the Members themselves. 

Seven such trips were taken in 2021, with a combined declared value of $13,651.43. 

QUOTES FROM COMMISSION​ER DION ​

“The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons includes a provision to publish an annual list of sponsored travel taken in the calendar year. In support of transparency, it includes expenditures and other information about trips accepted by Members of Parliament last year." 

“For the second year in a row, we have seen the number of sponsored trips accepted by Members be quite low from the pre-pandemic yearly average. Members reported seven trips in 2021 compared to a yearly average of 83 between 2007, when the Office started publishing the List of Sponsored Travel, and 2019." 

Addition​al Facts 

• Under subsection 15(1) of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, sponsored travel is any travel worth more than $200 that is not fully paid by the government, a political party, a recognized parliamentary association or by Members themselves. It must be disclosed within 60 days after the end of a sponsored trip. Public declarations of sponsored travel are posted throughout the year in the public registry.
• Sponsored trips are not considered gifts under the Code. They are therefore excluded from its gift rule prohibiting Members from accepting gifts or other benefits that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence them. However, all benefits (including gifts) received during sponsored trips must be disclosed in a Public Statement of Sponsored Travel by Members.
• Subsection 15(3) of the Code requires the Commissioner to prepare an annual List of Sponsored Travel and submit it to the Speaker of the House of Commons by March 31. The Office published the first List of Sponsored Travel for the 2007 calendar year.
• Despite being responsible for making available a summary of information about each sponsored trip, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner has no role in providing guidance on the acceptability of the travel itself. 
• Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are prohibited from accepting sponsored travel by the Prime Minister's guidance document, Open and Accountable Government. Under the Conflict of Interest Act, with which they must also comply, such travel would be considered a gift or other advantage and would therefore be subject to the Act's acceptability test for gifts and other advantages. 

The Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner was created under the Federal Accountability Act. The Commissioner applies the Conflict of Interest Act for public office holders and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.  

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The List of Sponsored Travel 2021 is available in HTML​ and PD​F formats​​. 

For more information, please call 613-995-0721 or email ciemedia@cie.parl.gc.ca.