Senators will soon be banned from travelling in business class for flights between Ottawa and Montreal, and Ottawa and Toronto, CTV News has confirmed.
Senate spokesperson Nancy Durning said that changes to the Senate travel policy have been approved by the Board of Internal Economy. They will go into effect when the current Senate session ends.
There are two major changes:
- Senators travelling between Ottawa and Montreal, and Ottawa and Toronto, will be required to travel in economy class only, not business
- Under a new “travel optimization program,” senators will be required to meet with a finance official once a year to evaluate travel patterns and discuss the most cost-efficient way to travel
Durning said adjustments to the travel policy have been made over the years, and the new changes are in line with the ongoing process of updating the policy.
The newest changes, she said, are not in response to the Auditor-General Michael Ferguson’s Senate audit, scheduled to be released early next month.
Earlier this week, CTV News reported that the sweeping audit has cost taxpayers $21 million, and uncovered troubling expense claims from 10 more sitting and former senators.
