Quebec Senator Amina Gerba undertook two separate trips to Vancouver with her spouse to attend intensive English courses, costing nearly $22,000 in total. These trips, occurring in July 2023 and 2024, were in compliance with Senate travel regulations and were fully reimbursed. The couple enrolled in the courses at Collège Éducacentre, with tuition fees amounting to $1,521 per course.
The travel expenses for each trip, covering hotel accommodations, business-class airfare, and daily allowances for six days, were $9,064.30 in the first year and $9,790.25 in the second year. Although Gerba, representing the Rigaud division in Quebec, did not provide an interview, she stated in a written communication that she abided by the Senate’s office management policy, which outlines the guidelines for senators’ travel and other expenses.
Senate members are entitled to have their official language training costs and associated travel expenses reimbursed. Additionally, the Senate permits senators’ spouses to partake in the same courses and receive expense reimbursements. Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain, a member of the Senate’s standing committee on internal economy, budgets, and administration (CIBA), advocates for a review of the language training guidelines.
Following inquiries into Gerba’s travel expenditures, Radio-Canada discovered that the CIBA plans to reassess the regulations pertaining to English and French language courses at an upcoming meeting. Saint-Germain emphasized the importance of language proficiency but questioned the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the current system, stating, “We are in the realm of public service.”
Moreover, Saint-Germain raised concerns about the rationale behind traveling with a spouse for language immersion purposes, suggesting that true immersion necessitates being alone in the target language environment. However, Gerba defended her choice, stating that her husband’s presence helped maintain family balance without hindering her official duties and that the trips were essential for her responsibilities to travel across the country she represents.
Bloc Québécois MP Christine Normandin and NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice called for Gerba to reimburse what they deemed as unwarranted travel expenses. They questioned the necessity of traveling to Vancouver, a popular destination, with expenses covered by taxpayers, especially when similar language courses are available closer to Gerba’s residence in Montreal.
The Senate is not only reviewing language training but also assessing other travel practices, including regional “familiarization tours.” These tours, such as those in Alberta, have sparked discomfort among some senators due to the inclusion of spouses. A survey on these tours has been circulated among senators, with a majority advocating for stricter regulations. The standing committee is expected to announce forthcoming decisions on such tours in the near future.