"It's hard to imagine why an unelected senator should be travelling anywhere outside of the country on taxpayers' dime, so Gagne billing taxpayers almost $1million to fly around the world is completely unacceptable."

"Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to hold Gagne accountable and make sure senators aren't globe-trotting on the taxpayer credit card." 

Franco Terrazzano, Canadian Taxpayers Federation 

 

"Despite their current prevalence in Canada, research has consistently shown that corporate welfare is largely wasteful and generally fails to achieve its stated goals."

Alex Whalen, director, Atlantic Canada Prosperity Initiative, Fraser Institute

 

"[According to a newly published study by the Fraser Institute, corporate subsidies are unfair to businesses that don't receive them, with research showing] there is little connection between sustained, widespread economic growth or job creation and corporate subsidies."

"[Several studies offer various conclusions around the] wasteful nature [of corporate subsidies, including the incentive for firms to lobby government instead of delivering better services]."

Fraser Institute

Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné    Courtesy of the Senate of Canada

 

Between 2007 and 2015, according to data, spending on subsidies to Canadian businesses (corporate welfare) increased from $22.2 billion to $25.1 billion; 23.8 percent. That increase rose to 44.2 percent from 2014 to 2019. By 2024 the figure was $87.7 billion, tripling and more, the 2015 figure. "Corporate welfare" is defined by the Fraser Institute as payments from government to private businesses intended to achieve specific objectives that are not payments for goods or services rendered". Rather they are paid with an economic objective; to boost a particular industry or to achieve job growth.

 

When accounting for inflation and population, the study found that spending on subsidies increased in every province and at the federal level between 2015 and 2024. Years that coincide with the ruling governing tenure of the Liberal Party, first under PM Justin Trudeau, no economic wizard he, and followed by the former Governor of the Bank of England, internationally renowned economic wizard, who left the Exchequer in a bit of a ruinous state. 

 

Mr. Carney's recent sovereign wealth fund, the Canada Strong Fund, patterned on the one he installed in Britain and generally viewed as a failure, faces criticism from Conservative thinkers for its role in helping the government of Canada to hand out more "corporate welfare", from a fund that as it happens, operates with government-borrowed money. 

 

 

 

In other areas where government appointees have felt entitled to lavish taxpayer funds on personal vanity travels, Canada's recent-past Governor General Mary Simon led the way on entitlements. From rather too-ample clothing allowances, to out-of-this world costs of on-board travel sumptuous catering and reservations at sky-high pricey hotel accommodations, Mary Simon taught the Canadian public just how grand entitlements were for her.

"Taxpayers caught the governor general billing us thousands on absurdly extravagant and expensive trips that she should never have taken in the first place."

"Taxpayers forced the governor general to cut spending following a scandal that included multiple committee testimonies and reports calling for spending restraint. But the governor general hiked travel costs once she thought taxpayers and members of Parliament weren’t looking."

"Now it’s time for MPs to take responsibility and cut wasteful spending at Rideau Hall."

Franco Terrazzano, CTF federal director 

Now it's Raymonde Gagne's turn; she and her entourage billed taxpayers $875,677 on  14 international trips since May of 2023 when she was appointed speaker of the Senate by former PM Justin Trudeau. Since records fail to include costs of her more recent trips to Chile, Tunisia and the Netherlands, total costs of her international trips will total much higher. 

 

Records for her most recent trip of a "courtesy call" by Senator Gagne to Horii Iwao, state minister for Foreign affairs, Japan, turned out to be a 45 minute visit. Yet her entourage included three fellow senators along with two Parliamentary staff and Madam Gagne's husband. That trip alone was $107,594. "If Gagne wants to make a courtesy call to a Japanese politician, then she should pick up the phone instead of billing taxpayers six figures. In what world is it acceptable for an unelected senator to bill taxpayers thousands of dollars for meals and receptions?" queried Franco Terrazzano.

King Charles III receives Canada's Speaker of the Senate Raymonde Gagné during an audience at Buckingham Palace on March 12, 2025. Photo by Aaron Chown /Getty Images

 

A trip to Spain and the United Kingdom including an audience with King Charles III, cost a total of $105,156; the entourage including three other senators, Gagne's spouse, and two staffers in March of 2025. Senator Gagne and seven others took a trip in 2024 to New Zealand for "business calls" in Rotorus, Christchurch and Wellington, for a total cost of $118,965. Senator Gagne posed for a photograph with the mayor of Rotorus Lakes, a popular tourist destination.

 

Senator Gagne, who speaks of her love of travelling, took in Switzerland, France, the United States, Belgium, Brazil Romania, the Czech Republic and South Africa. She had visited 30 counties and almost every continent.  

"A friend encouraged me to travel and I decided to visit the Galapagos Islands with her. As a biology teacher, I have always been fascinated by Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. I had read his book and attended exhibitions on the subject. This trip was an important step for me because I felt the need to keep exploring. I couldn't stay stagnant. It was a pivotal moment, [after the death of her first husband]."

"My current partner also likes to travel, and we have explored India and Japan together. These are countries that are completely different from what we are used to. I cherish those experiences." 

Speaker of the Senate Raymonde Gagne

 

"If senators aren't going to represent anyone but themselves then they need to not represent anyone for a lot less money."

Franco Terrazzano, Canadian Taxpayers Federation 

The Canadian delegation at Rotorua Lakes Council, including HW Tania Tapsell, Mayor. Photo by Office of the Clerk