The Senate is supposed to be the chamber of “sober second thought,” but senators are spending tens of thousands on booze, plus thousands more on fine dining, disco, minigolf and escape rooms, according to expenses reviewed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“It’s probably hard for senators to provide that sober second thought when they’re spending thousands on booze,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Taxpayers are going to be outraged when they see how unelected senators are milking their expenses.

“Senators just jacked up their hospitality bill 67 per cent in one year and I bet most Canadians don’t think the Senate is providing 67 per cent more value.”

Individual senators expensed taxpayers $116,100 on hospitality last year. That’s a 67 per cent increase over the previous year. The Senate administration and the Senate’s house officers more than doubled their hospitality expenses since 2019.

As big as the increase in hospitality expenses were, the most damning finding was what senators are billing taxpayers for.

The Senate spent $27,000 on alcohol from the LCBO, the SAQ, wineries and the Beer Store since 2019. The Senate also spent thousands on gifts, including $1,600 on “gifts” from a distillery in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Senators routinely billed taxpayers for lavish meals at high-end restaurants. They spent a combined $20,500 on nine excursions to Le St-Estèphe, an upscale restaurant that serves French cuisine.

Senators spent $790 to hire bartenders for a single event. They also held three receptions at Rivero Disco, costing taxpayers $2,100. Yellow Pages describes the disco hall as “having an awesome light show.”

Senators billed taxpayers $644 at a minigolf venue for a single “staff working session.” They also billed taxpayers $210 trying to find their way out of an escape room.

“I’m not sure how billing taxpayers hundreds of dollars playing putt-putt helps unelected senators rubberstamp legislation,” Terrazzano said. “Expenses are supposed to be used sparingly and for crucial work business, senators shouldn’t be using expenses to increase their taxpayer-funded perks.

“Why do senators think struggling taxpayers should pay for their gifts, flowers, fine dining, booze, minigolf and disco parties?”

Senator Yvonne Boyer is the Senate’s most frequent big spender on hospitality. She was among the top 10 highest hospitality spenders during each of the last six years, costing taxpayers nearly $15,000 since 2019.

Boyer spent $8,000 on “gifts” in six years. She also spent $340 at the Keg for a “business meeting” with four people and $100 at a wine bar for a “business meeting” with two people.

Senator Marilou McPhedran is another big spender. She spent $377 at Château Laurier in one day. The Château Laurier is one of the most popular hotspots for senators’ “business meetings.” McPhedran also spent $623 for a “business meeting” with 10 people at an unusual location – the Aga Khan Museum.

Senator David Wells, also among the top hospitality spenders, spent $555 on multiple trips to Mallard’s Cottage, a 300-year old venue in St John’s that serves delicacies like cod tongues and $16 Brussels sprouts.

Senator Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia spent $1,100 on a single business meeting at India Gate Restaurant that included 20 people, and another $260 on flowers.

Senator Bernadette Clement spent about $3,300 on gifts alone.

“Just because it’s called the Red Chamber, it doesn’t mean senators should be driving Canadian taxpayers further into the red,” Terrazzano said. “Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to crack down on these frivolous and wasteful expenses.”

Unelected senators also take pay raises every year. A senator’s current base salary is $184,800 and will climb to an estimated $193,600 after this year’s April 1 pay raise.

But that’s only a fraction of the Senate’s burden to taxpayers. Senators have separate budgets for hospitality, office, travel and other expenses paid for by taxpayers.