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Canada's Senate wants to become "carbon neutral" by 2030, and is "looking at bicycles" to achieve that aim.

Senators are looking into "potential initiatives" to reduce their annual air travel, reported Blacklock’s Reporter. "I know every one of us can ... find other ways to travel," said Lucie Moncion, Senator and chair of the committee on internal economy.

"Bicycle use is one of them," she clarified, but did not elaborate. Official estimates peg yearly air travel at 5 million kilometres.

An environment subcommittee in 2022 claimed the pursuit of carbon neutrality was within the realm of possibility. A November 4, 2022 notice from the Senate aimed to calculate its carbon footprint, and develop a long term plan.

Senators hired a climate change consultant for advice to the tune of $93,860, as disclosed by Senator Mary Coyle on Tuesday. The Upper House has heard nothing to date.

"Could you explain why the report has not yet been released?" asked Senator Coyle. Chair Moncion did not respond.

Across Parliament Hill, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland failed to keep her pledge of 'climate-friendly' travel in recent years. "I ride my bike to meetings in Toronto," she once claimed.

The minister earlier told reporters that she avoided car travel and attended meetings on foot or by public transit and that suggesting otherwise was "blatant disinformation."

"I think all of us who are in these positions of responsibility need to take a deep breath and ask ourselves what we did today to fight climate change," Freeland testified June 7, 2023, at the Senate national finance committee. "What did I do today to be sure that we’re doing the right things for Canada?" she added.

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Freeland’s expense records showed thousands of dollars in limousine and taxi billings. She also used a chauffeured car 14 times to attend "meetings and events" in Toronto, and an undisclosed number of times in Ottawa.