There are rules about travel in the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons that you must follow.
Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules, as can the mandatory training on the Code that all Members must complete within 120 days after their election is confirmed. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.
As a minister or parliamentary secretary, you and members of your family face special restrictions under section 12 of the Conflict of Interest Act relating to air travel.
Travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft is not acceptable unless it's necessary for your job, in exceptional circumstances, or if you get the Commissioner's approval in advance.
If you, a member of your family, a member of your ministerial staff or a ministerial adviser accepts, from any source, travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft, you must publicly declare it within 30 days after the travel.
Any other travel you accept is considered a gift or other advantage and is covered by the Act’s acceptability test for gifts.
The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons exempts sponsored travel from its acceptability test for gifts. Sponsored travel is any travel worth more than $200 that is not fully paid by the government, a political party, a recognized parliamentary association or the Members.
However, that exemption does not apply to sponsored travel accepted by ministers and parliamentary secretaries. If you are offered such travel, it will be subject to the acceptability test for gifts. You will also need the Commissioner’s advance approval.
If the Commissioner approves any sponsored travel for you, you must publicly declare it by:
- filing with the Commissioner’s Office a Public Statement of Sponsored Travel by Members under the Code, within 60 days after the end of the sponsored trip, and
- filing with the Commissioner’s Office a gift declaration under the Act.
It’s a good idea to speak with your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office if you are offered sponsored travel. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.