Andrew CoyneVerified account @acoyne 10 senators to be referred to RCMP, ~ 30 more with questionable expenses. These ppl sat in judgment of Duffy/Wallin?
Canada’s auditor general will recommend that the Senate refer 10 cases of alleged misspending by former and current senators to the RCMP, naming names and detailing the disturbing findings that have raised concerns of criminality.
The report will also contain about a dozen recommendations to help the upper chamber prevent further abuse of expenses.
Those 10 senators — the majority of whom are retired — have been informed in writing that Michael Ferguson’s final report on Senate spending will single them out, and will urge the upper chamber to call in the Mounties over their expense files, the Citizen has learned.
Ferguson is also expected to explain in detail what his auditors found in each of those 10 cases.
The 10 senators will have the right to challenge Ferguson’s findings to an outside arbitrator. If they choose not to, the Senate will send the file to the RCMP promptly.
(For those who do choose arbitration, any finding by the arbitrator that their spending was in fact justified would force the Senate itself to pick sides between the arbitrator’s views and those of the auditor.)
If any files involving retired senators go to the RCMP, the Senate is prepared to take those retirees to court to try to recoup wrongfully claimed expenses.
The details come from multiple Senate sources with knowledge of Ferguson’s final report and of the Senate’s planned response. None would speak publicly because no public statements have been authorized.
Ferguson’s office wouldn’t comment on the final report.
more
Auditor will urge Senate to send 10 misspending cases to RCMP | Ottawa Citizen
