Audit of all senator expenses forthcoming

 

After continued breaking announcements of scandal in the senate, Canada’s auditor general Michael Ferguson announced that he plans to review each and every senator’s expenses. 

“We’re very disappointed with what we see with some of the senators, it’s really a question of ethical behaviour,” said Crowfoot MP Kevin Sorenson. 

The expense scandal first made headlines after word broke that Senator Mike Duffy had claimed his primary residency outside of Ottawa to claim living expenses. Duffy has lived and worked in Ottawa for years, but had claimed his primary residence was in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island. 

Since news first broke of the Duffy expense scandal, three other senators have also been put in the spotlight for their controversial claims: Senators Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau for their living and housing allowances, and Pamela Wallin’s travel expenses. Senators have a huge responsibility to the people of Canada, said Sorenson. 

“It’s not that the people of Canada owe them anything, it’s that they’re there and they’re in a trusted position and we expect that people will conduct themselves in manner that’s honourable,” said Sorenson. 

“It certainly disappoints all of us from all parties when we see senators from all parties involved in this. I think the more transparency we can have on peoples expenses and the way people conduct their business I think the better off we are.”

Besides the RCMP investigation, and the announcement of reviews of each senator’s expenses, there are also other steps being put into place to try to ensure this doesn’t happen in the future. Sorenson says there will be more transparency of expense claims in the future, more internal audits and more reporting of those claims. 

The controversy that has arisen is just one of many reasons why Sorenson thinks more reform is needed in the senate. 

“The senate can be a very good body of sober second thought for regional issues, but it’s drifted. We have to make sure there’s reform in the senate, there has to be more accountability that’s why I support elected senators,” said Sorenson. 

For every other body of government there is an election every few years, and so if elected officials aren’t doing their jobs then people will have a chance to see a new government come in. That’s not the current case with senate. Those appointed can hold a seat for 35 years without ever having to be forced out or face an election. Sorenson would like to see regular elections for senate members, he would like to see it become more equal across the province and he would like to see senate members given certain powers, not all powers. 

One of the main roles of the senate is to look at legislation being introduced and ensuring that it is in the best interest of Canadian’s before it is passed and put into effect. 

“It’s a good control I think that causes us to not look only from my own constituents’ perspective but is it good for all of Canada, are we taking advantage of one part of the country,” said Sorenson. 

“Senators are there to look at all legislation but I feel senators should be looking at it more of a regional protection not just a partisan protection, in other words not just protecting our party line, but protecting our region.”

Following the audits of Harb, Duffy and Brazeau, the senate ordered that tens of thousands of dollars be repaid from wrongly collected allowances. Wallin was ordered to repay more than $120,000.

The auditing process into all senators’ expenses is scheduled to take place soon. It will follow the same methodology as performance audits, which can take up to 18 months. 

Findings from the audit may be released as the process is happening. 

In a report from Global News Ferguson said, “We haven’t come to that decision yet, but we understand that people don’t want to wait 18 months to get all the information. So if there’s any way that we can do some interim reporting, we will do that.”