Quebec Senator Amina Gerba undertook two trips to Vancouver with her spouse for 20-hour English courses each, costing nearly $22,000 in total. These trips, which were within Senate travel regulations, were fully reimbursed. The couple attended courses at Collège Éducacentre, with tuition fees of $1,521 per course.
The travel expenses, covering hotel stays, business-class flights, and daily allowances for the six-day visits, amounted to $9,064.30 for the first year and $9,790.25 for the second year. Senator Gerba, representing the Rigaud division in Quebec, stated in a written response that she adhered to the Senate’s office management policy governing senators’ expenses and travel.
Senate members are eligible for reimbursement for official language training and associated travel costs. The Senate permits senators’ spouses to participate in these courses and have their expenses covered as well. Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain, a member of the Senate’s standing committee on internal economy, budgets, and administration (CIBA), suggested a review of the language training guidelines.
Following inquiries into Senator Gerba’s travel expenditures, it was revealed that the CIBA plans to revisit the rules concerning English and French language courses at an upcoming meeting. Saint-Germain emphasized the importance of language proficiency but questioned the cost-effectiveness of the current approach, emphasizing the public service aspect.
Gerba defended her travel with her spouse, stating that it helped maintain family balance without impeding her official duties. She justified the need for these trips as essential for fulfilling her responsibilities and gaining insights into various provinces’ issues and cultures. Additionally, she highlighted the enriching parliamentary and professional activities during her stay.
Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin and NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice raised concerns about the travel expenses, suggesting that Gerba should reimburse them. They questioned the necessity of traveling to Vancouver with a spouse for language training, especially when similar courses are available closer to home in Montreal. The MPs expressed the public’s potential frustration with such expenditures amidst calls for budget cuts in other areas.
Apart from language training, the Senate is also reviewing other types of travel, such as regional “familiarization tours,” following discomfort among members during trips to Alberta. A survey on these tours has been circulated among senators, with a majority advocating for stricter regulations. The standing committee is expected to announce new guidelines for such tours in the near future.