The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons allows Members who are not ministers or parliamentary secretaries to accept, for themselves and guests, sponsored travel that arises from or relates to their position.
Sponsored travel is travel the costs of which exceed $200 and are not wholly paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or by the Member personally, their political party or any parliamentary association recognized by the House of Commons.
Sponsored travel is not considered a gift under the Code and is therefore excluded from the gift rule prohibiting Members from accepting gifts or other benefits that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence them.
Members must, within 60 days after the end of a trip, file a statement with the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner disclosing the travel. The statement will be posted in the public registry.
To make it easier for
you to let us know about any sponsored travel you have accepted, please refer to the How to Disclose
Sponsored Travel document. It explains the specific information required on the Public Statement of
Sponsored Travel by Members and how you can submit it to the Office.
The Commissioner is required to submit to the Speaker of the House of Commons a list of sponsored travel by Members during the previous calendar year. The list is submitted by March 31 each year.
Sponsored travel is governed by section 15 of the Code. Section 15 replaced former House of Commons Standing Order 22. Standing Order 22 came into effect in February 1986 and required that such travel be recorded in a public registry maintained by the Clerk of the House of Commons. For more information about the development of the sponsored travel rules, please see the chronology.
