The better to know their countries, they say, but having an understanding Canadian MP on your side is never a bad idea.

Politicians prefer to call them “sponsored travel.” It sounds so much better. Either way it means somebody else is picking up the tab.

These are nice trips at this time of year, especially in warm countries. Sometimes the spouse is invited along as well.

Everything is included: airline tickets, hotel rooms, transfers, meals, and entertainment. These trips are worth thousands of dollars. Who could ask for anything more?

“Sponsored travel” is not to be confused with official parliamentary delegations, study missions or inter-parliamentary exchanges, which are paid for by Canadian taxpayers.

Israel was the most generous country in 2008 bringing over 23 Canadian MPs to help celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state. That was before the war with Hamas, of course.

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe went to Israel for 9 days with spouse Yolande Brunelle. The Canada-Israel Committee paid for it. The estimated cost: $17,577.

Taiwan used to be the most popular “sponsored travel” destination. It had only 12 Canadian MPs on junkets last year. Not bad for a country not officially recognized by Canada.

Liberal MP Denis Coderre visited Berlin to talk about “security and defence” with the Germans. The cost to the German Bundestad for a four-day talkfest with Coderre: $8,558.56

Bloc Québécois MP Paul Crête accompanied by Myriam Santerre spent a week in Israel in July. The purpose was “raising awareness of Israel’s and Palestine’s political situations.” The Canada-Israel Committee picked up the tab of $10,944.

Conservative MP Steven Blaney went to Germany for five days of “bilateral” discussions on security. The Federal Republic of Germany paid the $4,500 cost. Thank you, Ms. Merkel.

Conservative MPs like to stay closer to home, geographically speaking.

Conservative House Leader Jay Hill took an eight-day trip last March to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, paid for by the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson also went to Myrtle Beach with wife Linda Thompson paid for by the same Chamber of Commerce. The cost: $3,760. Myrtle Beach is considered the winter golf capital of the Eastern Seaboard.

The champion “sponsored” globetrotter for 2008 was none other than Conservative MP John Williams who led the charge in 2005 against the Liberals’ sponsorship program.

Williams managed four continents on somebody else’s dime. He went to Doha, Kuwait, Bogotá in Colombia, Bali in Indonesia, and Mexico City. The Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption forked over the cash. Fighting corruption worldwide can be such a trying endeavour.

In 2007, 65 MPs accepted “sponsored” travel junkets, compared to only 49 MPs in 2008, which was after all an election year

MPs who accept sponsored junkets are required upon their return to fill out a form listing where they went, for how long, who was with them, what the trip was about, who paid for it, and how much they figure it cost the sponsor.

They also have to write a letter explaining what they learned on the trip. Sometimes the letters are difficult to write. They remain secret, out of prying public eyes. In bureaucratese, they are “protected.” Two years later they are burned.

Once a year Mary Dawson, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, publishes the list of “sponsored” travel during the previous year. The list gives as few details as possible while still respecting the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Code of MPs.

The practice of MPs in a country as rich and as independent as Canada taking free trips from foreign powers doesn’t sit well with some Canadians who believe that our country is not for sale, and least of all, not our MPs.

Other Canadians see nothing wrong with free junkets for MPs.

They argue that it takes more than a couple of airline tickets and a week in a fancy hotel to compromise a Canadian MP.

“Excuse me, is there a king size bed in the room?”