A Nova Scotia senator billed taxpayers nearly $3,000 to travel to Washington, D.C. for a Canadian Embassy event where guests watched Donald Trump’s inauguration on large screens while being served “beaver tails.”

Senator Michael MacDonald is the highest-spending senator in Nova Scotia and the third highest in Canada. Only Salma Ataullahjan and David Wells spent more, at $131,706 and $120,389, respectively.

“Taxpayers paid nearly $3,000 so an unelected senator could fly to Washington, watch TV and eat beaver tails,” said Devin Drover, Canadian Taxpayers Federation Atlantic Director and General Counsel. “Nobody in Nova Scotia voted for MacDonald and nobody in Nova Scotia should be stuck paying for his travel tab.”

MacDonald spent more than $85,000 on 17 international trips between January 2023 and March 2026, according to records obtained by the CTF.

MacDonald travelled to the United States 13 times, Mexico twice, and also visited Argentina, Uruguay and Japan.

On one of those trips to the U.S., MacDonald billed taxpayers $5,023 for accommodation alone during a four-day conference in Jackson, Wyoming, in September 2025. One elected MP, Ziad Aboultaif, was also on the trip.

MacDonald also billed taxpayers $2,869 to travel to Washington, D.C., for the Canadian Embassy’s inauguration event for President Donald Trump. The embassy planned to show the inauguration on large screens and serve guests beaver tails.

MacDonald billed taxpayers $13,653 for a five-day trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, in March 2025. Parliament sent three senators and one elected MP, Richard Cannings. The entire trip cost $76,236. It spent $3,744 on hospitality, including a $1,794 dinner for 10 people.

Parliament did not release a report on the trip. However, Argentina’s government records identify Cannings speaking on behalf of the Canadian delegation during a meeting with Argentine lawmakers. The records do not attribute any remarks to MacDonald.

While in Uruguay, Canada’s ambassador hosted the delegation for a reception at her residence, “with a privileged view of the sea.”

MacDonald also billed taxpayers $12,849 for a trip to Japan in May 2024. Parliament sent five MPs, Terry Sheehan, Angelo Iacono, Gord Johns, Sébastien Lemire and Dan Mazier, and two senators. The delegation cost $110,785.

Parliament described bilateral consultations as the “core” of the trip and designated a lead presenter for each of the three discussion topics. All three lead presenters were elected MPs. MacDonald did not lead any of the presentations. Parliament’s report does not attribute a speech, presentation or question to MacDonald during the trip.

“Senators aren’t elected, aren’t accountable and apparently aren’t even needed at these meetings,” Drover said. “The Senate needs to stop rubber-stamping these junkets and start telling taxpayers exactly what they get for the money.”

Senator Stanley Kutcher was Nova Scotia’s second-highest-spending senator, billing taxpayers $62,832 for five international trips. Kutcher travelled to Japan four times and the Philippines once.

Senator Réjean Aucoin was Nova Scotia’s third-highest-spending senator, billing taxpayers $41,826 for five international trips, plus $460 in expenses related to a cancelled trip to India. Aucoin travelled to France three times and also visited Austria and Uruguay.

Nova Scotia senators billed taxpayers $207,683 for international travel between January 2023 and March 2026, according to the records.