Senate Speaker Raymonde Gagné and her entourage have billed taxpayers at least $875,677 for international travel since she was appointed to the role in May 2023, according to parliamentary financial disclosures reviewed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

The CTF says the total covers at least 14 international trips and is likely higher because available records do not include the full costs of Gagné's travel to Chile, Tunisia and the Netherlands.

“It’s hard to imagine why an unelected senator should be travelling anywhere outside of the country on taxpayers’ dime, so Gagné billing taxpayers almost $1 million to fly around the world is completely unacceptable,” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.

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Gagné's travel bill was also about $104,000 higher than that of the Speaker of the House of Commons, whose international travel cost taxpayers $771,243 over the same period.

Among the more expensive trips was a March 2026 visit to Japan, where Gagné's delegation made a “courtesy call” on the Japanese foreign affairs minister. The trip cost $107,594.

A March 2025 trip to Spain and the United Kingdom cost $105,156 and included the delegation receiving a new ceremonial sword from King Charles.

In September 2024, Gagné's delegation spent $118,965 travelling to New Zealand, including stops in Rotorua, Christchurch and Wellington. Parliamentary records describe the itinerary as including “business calls,” while Gagné visited Rotorua Lakes Council and met with the local mayor.

An unelected senator, Raymonde Gagné, and her entourage spent $900,000 on more than a dozen international trips in three years.

This is outrageous.

Unelected senators who represent no one but themselves should NOT be globetrotting on your dime. pic.twitter.com/rJ3rWKBmsI

— Franco Terrazzano (@franco_nomics) August 12, 2026

Another $101,816 was spent on a March 2024 trip to Côte d’Ivoire and Benin. The delegation attended the opening of a regional stock exchange in Côte d’Ivoire, while its Benin itinerary included visits to “major tourist sites” and learning about the “sacred forest of Voodoo culture.”

Gagné's delegation also spent $82,877 travelling to the U.K. and Ireland for discussions that included artificial intelligence and climate change. Other destinations since her appointment have included Switzerland, France, the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Romania, the Czech Republic and South Africa.

The expenses extended beyond flights and accommodations. Records show taxpayers were billed $2,822 for a 12-person dinner at London's Oxford and Cambridge Club, or roughly $235 per person, and $1,927 for a 12-person luncheon in Madrid.

Gagné earns an annual salary of $268,300 and receives additional residence and automobile allowances.

The CTF also noted that Gagné's partner accompanied her on at least eight taxpayer-funded international trips, according to the disclosures. In a 2024 Senate interview, Gagné described herself as an avid traveller and said she “cherish[ed]” her experiences visiting countries around the world.

“If senators aren’t going to represent anyone but themselves then they need to not represent anyone for a lot less money,” Terrazzano said.