OTTAWA — Federal politicians aren’t letting a record deficit stop them from jetting around the globe in style.
MPs and senators from all parties are proposing to spend almost $1.5 million in taxpayers’ money in the next fiscal year to attend meetings in such exotic locales as Swaziland, Seychelles, Trinidad, Kenya, India and Indonesia.
And with sky-high airfares of up to $10,500 each, they don’t appear to be planning to fly economy — or shopping for the lowest price.
Details of the planned excursions are contained in the draft budgets for the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, obtained by The Canadian Press. They are just two of a dozen parliamentary associations to which federal politicians belong.
The IPU is asking for $870,366 and the CPA for $605,818 — most of it for international travel. Both budgets must still be approved by the Joint Interparliamentary Council, which is overseen by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Senate’s internal economy committee.
The IPU budget provides the most detail, including estimated airfares for each of its 16 international trips planned for the 2010-11 fiscal year. For instance: $10,500 to Jakarta and New Delhi, $5,000 to Vienna, $7,000 to Geneva, and $2,500 to New York.
The ticket prices seem very high, even for business class. The Canadian Press was able to find business or executive class fares for $3,600 to New Delhi, $8,700 to Jakarta, $3,000 to Geneva and $3,000 to Vienna.
The CPA boasts a membership of 133 MPs and senators, representing all parties, while the IPU has 75 members.