The Senate has implemented stricter regulations regarding language immersion trips following a report by Radio-Canada about a Quebec senator’s English classes in Vancouver costing taxpayers close to $22,000. Moving forward, spouses will not be reimbursed for attending English or French classes, and travel expenses for accompanying spouses will no longer be covered by the Senate. Senators can still enroll in language courses, but they are encouraged to select options in Ottawa or their province of residence whenever feasible.
Approval from the Senate’s human resources department is now mandatory for any language training requests. The Senate’s standing committee on internal economy, budgets, and administration (CIBA) ratified these new guidelines last Thursday. Senator Amina Gerba’s trip to Vancouver with her husband for English classes, costing over $3,000 in training fees and nearly $19,000 in travel expenses, was recently disclosed by Radio-Canada. Despite the expenses, it was noted that Gerba did not violate any rules, and similar language study trips have been customary among senators for years.
Senator Éric Forest, a CIBA member, expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating that while all senators adhered to the regulations, certain activities raised concerns. The Senate’s internal economy committee will review guidelines for “regional familiarization” trips, such as those in Alberta, which were brought to light by Radio-Canada in June. These tours included visits to the Calgary Stampede and Lake Louise, making some senators uncomfortable due to the presence of spouses. An internal survey on these trips revealed that a majority of senators support stricter regulations.