Members of Parliament accepted almost half a million dollars in free trips abroad last year, paid for by interest groups, governments and lobbyists, according to the latest data on sponsored travel.
Taiwan and Israel were the top destinations in 2012, with more than half of the $424,090 in sponsored travel coming from just two organizations: the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and the Chinese International Economic Co-operation Association (CIECA).
MPs are allowed to accept travel, accommodation, gifts and other payments over $500 as long as it "arises from or relates to their position." They have to declare the amounts within 60 days and the information is released annually by the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, which is based in Canada, sent 14 MPs on a series of trips during the summer months last year, usually on "parliamentary missions." These trips often pair Canadian MPs with Jewish youth on an "Israel adventure," according to a bulletin by the CIJA.
"I believe this trip truly allowed the participants to rethink their ideologies toward Israel, to ask challenging questions and to speak up for what they believe," read a dispatch written by traveller Sam Banks, which was posted on the CIJA website.
The Chinese International Economic Co-operation Association spent $85,785 to fly 12 MPs to the country on various missions to "discuss trade" or "exchange views of mutual interest and further government ties." Several MPs received also gifts over $500 from the group.
The bulk of trips on the list include standard fare: speaking engagements, meetings and other learning opportunities. One sponsored trip, worth $8,099 from Events Scotland, sent Liberal MP Kirsty Duncan to Chicago over one September weekend to "watch the Ryder Cup" golf tournament. The trip included $1,011.89 in accommodation and $7,087.47 in "other" expenses.
Thirteen MPs accepted more than $10,000 in sponsored travel in 2012. Conservative MP Bernard Trottier took the top spot with $19,460, split between a trip to Taiwan and another to Israel. He received $4,414 in gifts during those trips.
Conservative MPs Patrick Brown and Russ Hiebert were the busiest jet-setters, travelling four times each in 2012.
Taiwan and Israel have been the top destination for the past three years, racking up an average of $237,856 in sponsored travel each year.
Conservatives are far more likely to receive sponsored travel than members of other parties. But the amount of sponsored travel shifted sharply from Liberals to NDP MPs in recent years. For the first time since 2010, NDP MPs received more than their Liberal counterparts, receiving $150,403 in sponsored travel compared to just $54,433 for Liberals.
Below, find a searchable and sortable list of sponsored travel from 2012.