Think you can spot the waste?

You got it! Senators’ international travel spending shot up 88 per cent in two years. Now the question is: Are you getting close to 88 per cent more value from these senators’ trips?

Believe it or not, it’s true! Senators’ travel spending abroad jumped 88 per cent in two years. Courtesy of your tax dollars, of course.

You’re right! Wells took four trips to France, costing you $16,000. While he was attending the Assembly of the Council of Europe, Wells submitted speeches in writing, but did not actually stand up and deliver either from the floor.

Nice try! Wells traveled to Council of Europe meetings in France and submitted two speeches in writing, but did not actually stand up and deliver either from the floor. This begs the question: Did Wells really need to spend thousands traveling to France to deliver a written speech when he could have sent an email for free?

Correct! Senator Salma Ataullahjan is from Ontario and she dropped $131,706 on international travel over the last three years. During one trip, she spent nearly $10,000 travelling to a three-day conference in Chile where six elected MPs were already representing Canada.

Nope, the biggest spending senator was Salma Ataullahjan from Ontario. She racked up $131,706 on international travel in three years. During one trip, she spent nearly $10,000 travelling to a three-day conference in Chile where six elected MPs were already representing Canada.

You’re right! B.C. bureaucrats spent $104,260 at six luxury Fairmont hotels. Nearly half of that spending was at hotels that aren’t even on the government’s own approved hotel list where bureaucrats can get discounts.

Not quite, it was British Columbia! Those bureaucrats spent $104,260 at six luxury Fairmont hotels, even though the government has a list of 366 approved hotels where bureaucrats can get discounts.

You got it! The SAQ paid $298,000 to 65 online influencers, even though it’s the only place in Quebec that sells spirits. Meanwhile, its sales volumes dropped by about 5.9 per cent.

Not quite, it was the SAQ! It paid $298,000 to 65 online influencers to promote a store with zero competition. Meanwhile, its sales volumes dropped by about 5.9 per cent.

You got it! It’s Justin Trudeau. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council handed out $43,693 to a researcher to analyze 500,000 words from Trudeau’s official speeches. Not only did you just have to endure a decade of listening to Trudeau’s official speeches, but now you’re paying for a researcher to study the “contested meaning” of those speeches.

Not quite, it was Justin Trudeau! The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council handed out $43,693 to a researcher to analyze 500,000 words from Trudeau’s official speeches. Not only did you just have to endure a decade of listening to Trudeau’s official speeches, but now you’re paying for a researcher to study the “contested meaning” of those speeches.