Members of Parliament experienced a significant decline in sponsored international trips last year, marking the lowest number in 15 years, excluding the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ethics commissioner’s recent report, presented in the House of Commons, revealed that only 15 MPs in 2025 accepted sponsored travel from organizations or interest groups, amounting to $78,721. This figure was notably lower compared to the $230,000 in 2024 and $840,000 in 2023. The total sponsored travel accepted by MPs in 2025 was the lowest since 2010, with exceptions in 2020 and 2021.
Former Independent MP Kevin Vuong incurred the second-highest travel expenses, totaling $8,962 for trips to Israel and Jamaica in January and February. This amount exceeded the combined total of $7,518 accepted by three Conservative MPs for sponsored travel to England, Greece, and the Czech Republic. NDP MPs accepted $7,742 worth of travel, while a Bloc Québécois MP undertook a sponsored trip to Germany valued at $1,500. Overall, MPs received $54,650 for transportation, $15,737 for accommodations, and $8,302 for other expenses in 2025.
Per the House of Commons regulations, MPs are permitted to accept sponsored travel but are required to disclose it to Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein, who publishes the information online and submits an annual report to Parliament. MPs often justify accepting sponsored travel by stating it enhances their ability to participate in conferences and visit locations beneficial to their parliamentary responsibilities. Critics frequently question the value of these trips, likening them to junkets, as sponsoring groups may seek to influence an MP’s perspective on various issues.
Over the years, Taiwan and Israel have been popular destinations for sponsored travel. However, Taiwan was not included in the list of sponsored travel destinations in 2025. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada reinstated sponsored trips, bringing five MPs to Taiwan in January to promote bilateral relations.
In 2025, the Exigent Foundation sponsored Vuong’s trip to Israel, which was the only MP trip to Israel for the year. Although the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has frequently sponsored travel to Israel, they did not do so in 2025 due to ongoing conflict and travel restrictions in the region. Four MPs traveled to the Middle East in December, courtesy of the Canadian-Muslim Vote group, who facilitated a trip to Jordan to visit refugee camps and engage with humanitarian organizations. These MPs had intended to enter the West Bank but were denied entry.
Another notable sponsor of MP travel in 2025 was the Panamerican Congress, which funded a trip for four MPs to Mexico City in August for a conference. Additionally, Human Concern sponsored a trip for two Liberal MPs to Bangladesh in November to meet with Rohingya refugees and observe Canada-supported relief efforts.
The political upheaval in 2025, including the resignation of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the prorogation of Parliament, and subsequent elections leading to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government, made international travel challenging. The hybrid sitting rules implemented by Parliament allowed remote voting but restricted MPs from voting outside Canada during parliamentary sessions, potentially impacting the voting outcome if participating in sponsored international travel.
For more details, refer to the original article [here](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/members-parliament-sponsored-travel-9.7140842).
