Senate launches investigation of senators’ primary residence claims
OTTAWA — The Senate will conduct an internal audit to determine if its members are actually living in the locations they claim for expenses purposes.
The Citizen reported this week that Conservative Senator Mike Duffy and Liberal Senator Mac Harb, both longtime Ottawa residents, have each billed more than $30,000 for maintaining “secondary” homes in the city.
Senate rules allow senators to claim up to $21,000 annually in accommodation and food expenses while in the National Capital Region — away from their declared primary residences in their home provinces.
The Senate’s committee on internal economy, which sets rules for senators’ spending, announced Thursday that it has asked the Senate administration to “conduct an audit to assess whether all senators’ declarations of primary and secondary residence are supported by sufficient documentation.”
The audit will be performed by the Senate’s audit branch. It is expected to assess whether tax records, drivers’ licenses or other documentation support senators’ claims to live in their primary residences.
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Senate launches investigation of senators
OTTAWA — The Senate will conduct an internal audit to determine if its members are actually living in the locations they claim for expenses purposes.
The Citizen reported this week that Conservative Senator Mike Duffy and Liberal Senator Mac Harb, both longtime Ottawa residents, have each billed more than $30,000 for maintaining “secondary” homes in the city.
Senate rules allow senators to claim up to $21,000 annually in accommodation and food expenses while in the National Capital Region — away from their declared primary residences in their home provinces.
The Senate’s committee on internal economy, which sets rules for senators’ spending, announced Thursday that it has asked the Senate administration to “conduct an audit to assess whether all senators’ declarations of primary and secondary residence are supported by sufficient documentation.”
The audit will be performed by the Senate’s audit branch. It is expected to assess whether tax records, drivers’ licenses or other documentation support senators’ claims to live in their primary residences.
more
Senate launches investigation of senators