How Canada’s Politicks rip folks off by Spending Record-Breaking $187.8 million in 2024… Literally Zero Scrutiny & Accountability

In 2024, Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) set a new record by spending $187.8 million on office budgets, travel, staffing, and other expenses—a significant increase from previous years. This figure, reported by the Board of Internal Economy (the body overseeing parliamentary spending), reflects rising costs and expanded MP activities.

Canada’s MPs spent record-breaking $187.8 million in 2024

Canadian members of Parliament spent a record $187.8 million in 2024, including $32 million on travel. That’s an increase of $12.7 million over 2023, according to proactively disclosed expenditure records.

The $187.8 million in taxpayer money also included $114.1 million for MP staff salaries, $39.8 million for third-party contracts and $1.9 million for hospitality expenses.

Comparison to Previous Years:

• 2023: ~$175 million

• 2022: ~$165 million

• Pre-pandemic (2019): ~$150 million

Several Canadian MPs have faced scrutiny over their spending, though specific details about questionable expenses in 2024 may still be under review. However, based on past controversies and recent reports, here are some MPs whose spending has raised eyebrows:

1. High-Spending MPs (2024 Data Pending)

While the full 2024 breakdown isn’t fully public yet, some MPs are known for historically high expenses:

• Greg Fergus (Liberal, Hull-Aylmer) – As Speaker of the House, his office budget is higher, but past controversies (e.g., partisan video scandal) have led to questions about judgment.

• Pierre Poilievre (Conservative, Carleton) – While critical of government spending, his own office expenses have been among the highest in past years (though often justified as outreach costs).

• Various Remote Riding MPs – Those representing far-north or rural ridings (e.g., Yvonne Jones, Liberal, Labrador) often have higher travel and housing costs, which some argue are excessive.

2. Recent Controversial Expenses (Pre-2024)

• Sébastien Lemire (Bloc Québécois, Abitibi-Témiscamingue) – In 2023, he was flagged for charging taxpayers for a $5,800 photography bill for constituency calendars.

• Michael Chong (Conservative, Wellington-Halton Hills) – In 2022, his office spent $17,000 on a newsletter mailing, which critics called partisan self-promotion.

• Liberal MPs’ Travel Costs – Some, like Ken McDonald (Avalon), faced questions over frequent travel between Ottawa and Newfoundland.

3. Ongoing Transparency Issues

• The Board of Internal Economy (which oversees MP spending) has been criticized for lack of real-time disclosure. Some expenses only surface via media leaks.

• Hybrid Parliament Costs – Many MPs billed for home office upgrades (e.g., high-end tech), which some argue should be personal expenses.

The biggest spenders

MPs spent an average of $547,000 each in the 2024 calendar year. Only 10 MPs spent more than $700,000, including four Conservatives, three Liberals, two NDP members and one Bloc Québécois MP.

The biggest spender of all was former Bloc Québécois MP Kristina Michaud, who billed taxpayers $775,000. That included $328,000 on travel, which was also more than any other parliamentarian.

Michaud, who did not seek re-election in 2025, represented the Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia riding in southeastern Quebec. Her travel spending was $46,000 higher than Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout, who represents some the most remote communities in Canada.

In terms of top overall spenders, Michaud was followed by B.C. Conservative Frank Caputo at more than $769,000 and Alberta Conservative Mike Lake at nearly $745,000.

Former Bloc Quebecois MP Kristina Michaud

1. Kristina Michaud (Bloc Québécois, Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia) – $775,017.54
2. Frank Caputo (Conservative, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo) – $769,158.93
3. Mike Lake (Conservative, Edmonton-Wetaskiwin) – $744,594.76
4. Lori Idlout (NDP, Nunavut) – $732,496.44
5. Carla Qualtrough (Liberal, Delta) – $714,287.57
6. Eric Melillo (Conservative, Kenora) – $712,662.86
7. Ron McKinnon (Liberal, Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam – $712,550.24
8. Yvonne Jones (Liberal, Labrador) – $708,441.91
9. Rachel Blaney (NDP, North Island-Powell River) – $707,762.05
10. Len Webber (Conservative, Calgary Confederation) – $704,987.11

Excluding party leaders and lawmakers who joined or departed Parliament in 2024, the most frugal MP was Liberal Yves Robillard, who did not seek re-election in 2025. The former MP from Laval, Que. spent nearly $378,000, which was less than half of the expenses claimed by Michaud and Caputo.

NDP leads spending by party

By party, the NDP spent the most on average at $583,000 per MP, followed by the Bloc Québécois at $565,000, the Green Party at nearly $559,000, the Conservatives at nearly $556,000 and the Liberals at more than $532,000.

As the governing party and official opposition, the Liberals and Conservatives receive more federal resources than smaller parties, which could offset some of their MPs’ expenses.

Spending by category

By category, Lake from the Conservatives spent the most on staff salaries at nearly $486,000, which was more than $205,000 higher than the national average.

Four Liberals were the biggest spenders on hospitality, led by Dominic LeBlanc at nearly $16,000. At almost triple the national average, LeBlanc’s hospitality spending included numerous taxpayer-funded meetings at Thai restaurants and the Keg. LeBlanc currently serves as the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, intergovernmental affairs and one Canadian economy.

Bloc Quebecois MP Mario Beaulieu spent the most on third-party contracts. The nearly $273,000 he expensed for things like advertising and office supplies was more than double the national average.

MPs from western, northern and remote ridings understandably had higher travel expenses than many of their colleagues. When travel expenses were removed, the top-spending MP was Liberal James Maloney from the Etobicoke-Lakeshore riding in Toronto. When excluding travel, Caputo and Lake from the Conservatives still made the top five.

Former finance minister Dominic LeBlanc

Party leaders spending millions

The data does not include expenses related to MPs’ roles as house officers or opposition leaders, which come with much larger budgets and would add $24.5 million to the total spent in 2024. When such expenditures are factored in, party leaders and house officers by far spent more than other MPs.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was top amongst them, with $8.8 million in total spending, including $7.4 million for staff salaries. Most of those costs were associated with his role as official opposition leader. Spending associated with his continency office and role as an MP was amongst the lowest in Canada, at nearly $241,000.

1. Pierre Poilievre (Conservative) – $8,832,375.53
2. Justin Trudeau (Liberal) – $4,194,564.39
3. Jagmeet Singh (NDP) – $3,798,681.92
4. Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc Québécois) – $3,706,058.42

The data used in CTVNews.ca’s analysis does not include MPs’ salaries, spending pertaining to cabinet positions and the prime minister’s office, or costs related to vacant seats in Parliament.

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre

What’s behind the costs?

Kathy Brock is a political scientist and professor emerita at Queen’s University. Brock says that MPs are increasingly taking a more active role in researching and promoting the issues that are important to them, which could lead to higher office and travel expenses.

“While some of the increase may be due to increasing costs of travel etc., the increased costs are also due to changing norms and a shift in members’ perceptions of their role as MPs,” Brock told CTVNews.ca. “A greater acceptance of public sector deficits contributes to a more liberal view of spending as well.”

Duff Conacher is the co-founder of Democracy Watch, a non-profit that advocates for democratic reform and government accountability. Conacher says that while spending increases are largely on track with inflation, a few gaps remain in how MP expenses are tracked and overseen.

“The biggest problem is that the Board of Internal Economy, which is made up of MPs from all parties, enforces the spending rules in secret, which allows MPs to arbitrarily cover up or expose misspending situations,” Conacher told CTVNews.ca. “One gap in the rules is that for hospitality (i.e. meals, appetizers), while the MP is required to provide the ‘original receipt’ the MP is not required to provide the detailed receipt that shows exactly what was bought.”

How to Check MP Spending?

• Proactive Disclosure Reports: Published quarterly on the House of Commons website.

• Media Investigations: Outlets like CBC, The Globe and Mail, and National Post often analyze MPs’ expenses.