Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, speaking from Morocco, is defending his hefty travel and hospitality expenses.

According to information on spending by federal cabinet ministers, dating to March of 2010, Ritz has accumulated expenses of about $271,000.

"There's a good amount of work to be done out on the global stage," Ritz said Thursday, when asked about his expenses.

Ritz was in Morocco as part of a delegation working on a free trade agreement between Canada and that country.

His overseas trip will take him to Saudi Arabia on Friday.

He added that it was important for him to be present because an in-person meeting can play an important role in negotiations.

"Where it makes sense we'll do it by phone or by Skype, if you will," Ritz said. "But at the end of the day there's nothing like face to face negotiations."

Earlier, an aide to Ritz issued a release to news media noting that Canadian agriculture exports were valued at $44 billion in 2011, a new record.

"This is due, in part, to Agriculture Minister Ritz's steadfast commitment to help farmers earn their money from the marketplace, not the mailbox," Meagan Murdoch, Ritz's director of communications, said. "[T]rade missions are targeted and results-based, led in partnership with industry and provinces to open, re-open and expand Canadian markets for our hard working producers and processors."

Murdoch added that travel is done at "the lowest possible cost to taxpayers."

The communications aide also provided a list of people in the agriculture community who praised the work Ritz has done.

Ritz, the member of Parliament for Battlefords—Lloydminster, just barely edged out Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to claim the top spot for travel expenses among federal cabinet ministers.

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• How Much Do Our MPs Make?

  Here's a rundown of <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Lists/Salaries.aspx?Menu=HOC-Politic&Section=03d93c58-f843-49b3-9653-84275c23f3fb&Year=2011" target="_hplink">how much our MPs make</a> depending on their position in the House. (Alamy)

• MP - $157,731

  The base salary for a Member of Parliament is $157,731. Being named to cabinet or other positions nets an MP extra pay. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scazon/" target="_hplink">Flickr: Scazon</a>)

• Government and Opposition Whip - $186,151

  NDP MP Nycole Turmel is the Official Opposition Whip. (CP)

• Leaders of Other Parties - $211,425

  Bob Rae is the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. (CP)

• Minister of State - $214,368

  Tim Uppal is the Minister of State for Democratic Reform. Ministers of State are essentially junior cabinet ministers. (CP)

• Cabinet Minister - $233,247

  Jim Flaherty is Minister of Finance. (CP) All ministers also receive a car allowance of $2,122.

• Leader of the Opposition - $233,247

  As NDP chief, Thomas Mulair is leader of the Official Opposition. He also receives a $2,122 car allowance. (CP)

• Speaker of the House - $233,247

  Andrew Scheer is currently serving as speaker. On top of his salary, Scheer receives a rent allowance of $3,000 and a car allowance of $1,061. (CP)

• Prime Minister - $315,462

  As Prime Minister, Stephen Harper also receives a car allowance of $2,112. (AP)