After a significant controversy surrounding where his primary residence really is, The Honourable Senator Mike Duffy (Prince Edward Island) has stated that he is going to repay his living allowances back to The Honourable the Senate. A senator is entitled to receive up to $21,000 per annum to defray the costs of a second home in the National Capital Region, when the senator keeps a primary residence in the province the senator represents.
Senator Duffy has blamed the entire controversy on the Senate itself, claiming that the rules of the Senate, and the administrative forms through which one claims the expenses, are too confusing. I, for one, do not buy it; when I am confused about expenses at my workplace, I ask someone more experienced, or someone with administrative authority, to explain to me how it's supposed to work.
The controversy may not be entirely put to rest, though.
The Constitution Act, 1867 sets out that for a person to be eligible to become and to continue to be an honourable senator, they must be resident in the province they represent. Senator Duffy stated that his Prince Edward Island residence is a "winter home," so certainy he cannot be said to be resident there in the context of the constitution. We'll see what happens; Senator the Honourable Marjory LeBreton P.C. (Ontario), the Leader of Her Majesty's Government in the Senate, has stated that an investigation is ongoing.
(source)
Senator Duffy has blamed the entire controversy on the Senate itself, claiming that the rules of the Senate, and the administrative forms through which one claims the expenses, are too confusing. I, for one, do not buy it; when I am confused about expenses at my workplace, I ask someone more experienced, or someone with administrative authority, to explain to me how it's supposed to work.
The controversy may not be entirely put to rest, though.
The Constitution Act, 1867 sets out that for a person to be eligible to become and to continue to be an honourable senator, they must be resident in the province they represent. Senator Duffy stated that his Prince Edward Island residence is a "winter home," so certainy he cannot be said to be resident there in the context of the constitution. We'll see what happens; Senator the Honourable Marjory LeBreton P.C. (Ontario), the Leader of Her Majesty's Government in the Senate, has stated that an investigation is ongoing.
(source)