Senator Mike Duffy uncooperative with auditors

[coffeeFreak]

6 surprising things in the Senate expense audits
Senators Duffy, Harb and Brazeau varied greatly in their co-operation with auditors
By Leslie MacKinnon, CBC News Posted: May 10, 2013 4:24 PM ET

The audits conducted on the living and travel expenses claimed by three senators reveal some surprising information about how much they co-operated with the auditors, and what exactly they claimed.

A Senate sub-committee ordered senators Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau to repay tens of thousands of dollars after an independent auditor, Deloitte, examined their expenses and travel.

Duffy has already repaid $90,000, and Senator David Tkachuk, who heads the committee that produced the reports, said Thursday that Duffy's case is "closed."

After receiving the audits, the Senate committee found that the three senators' primary residences were in Ottawa, and not in the places outside the capital where they said they lived to be eligible to charge expenses for accommodation near Parliament Hill.

The Deloitte audits were made public Thursday. Here's some of what they revealed:

Co-operation with auditors

Conservative Senator Mike Duffy did not co-operate with Deloitte auditors. He did not provide any documentation. Deloitte had to piece together Duffy's whereabouts using records for his Senate-issued cellphone and Senate-issued American Express corporate credit card

Both Independent Senator Patrick Brazeau and Liberal Senator Mac Harb provided Deloitte with copies of their bank account statements, income tax returns and, in Harb's case, credit card statements. Brazeau does not have any personal credit cards.

Brazeau and Harb also provided either lease or mortgage documents about the homes they claimed were their primary residences.

Meeting with auditors

Both Brazeau and Harb, along with their lawyers, met with Deloitte.

Duffy declined invitations from Deloitte to meet and answer questions. However, Deloitte noted that in late April, when the audit was almost done, Duffy's lawyer sent an email that said Duffy had just offered to meet with the Senate or with Deloitte, presumably to explain his expenses.


But, Deloitte continued, "We understand that the Senate sub-committee notified Senator Duffy that it had agreed Senator Duffy's offer to meet with Deloitte would delay the process, and that the sub-committee agreed that there should be no further delays in the process."

Per diem claims

A senator is allowed to claim about $88 per day for meals and incidentals while on Senate business in Ottawa if their primary residence is 100 kilometres outside Ottawa. Deloitte chose an 18-month period between April 2011 and September 2012 for its examination.

Brazeau did not charge any per diem money during that time.

Harb charged $15,000. Deloitte identified eight claims by Harb where no official Senate business could be identified.

Duffy charged $18,000 in per diems but Deloitte noted, "It is not clear from the claims where Senator Duffy was located on days he claimed per diem," because the auditors had no access to his personal records. From cellphone records, Deloitte did identify 12 days Duffy was in Florida when he claimed per diems. However, Duffy repaid that money before the audit was done, saying a temporary staffer in his office had made an error in filling out forms.

Travel claims

The Senate allows 55 cents per kilometre for road trips.

Harb charged $11,000 for trips between Ottawa and a home in Westmeath, 145 kilometres from Ottawa.

Brazeau charged $2,800 for trips to and from Maniwaki, 135 kilometres from Ottawa, although Deloitte agrees there were 25 trips for which Brazeau did not claim expenses.

Duffy's trips to P.E.I were by plane and Deloitte does not provide details. Deloitte does note that in the summer Duffy drove to P.E.I. and back and charged driving expenses. The amount isn't specified, but a round trip between P.E.I. and Ottawa is more than 3,000 kilometres.

Accommodation

The Senate pays about $30 per day for senators to stay in secondary residences they might own in Ottawa, if their primary residence is somewhere else.

Duffy charged $15,000 for the suburban Ottawa home he purchased before he was appointed a senator.

Harb charged $15,000 for the house in Westmeath, Ont., that he bought in 2010. He’s been a senator since 2003, and lived in Ottawa before he moved to Westmeath, just outside Pembroke, Ont.

Brazeau charged $31,000 for leasing a house in Gatineau, Que. Senators can choose to rent, or stay in a hotel, but unlike hotel bills, both rental and private home costs can be charged every day of the year because the accommodation must be available for the senator to use at any time.

Time spent in primary residence

Duffy spent 30 per cent of his time his P.E.I. cottage. However, much of that time is accounted for by a two-month block in July and August.

Harb spent 21 per cent of his time at his Westmeath home, while Brazeau spent only 10 per cent of his time in Maniwaki.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/05/10/pol-deloitte-audit-senators-expenses-surprising-things.html

[SurplusElect]

Why is the RCMP not involved?

[bob vernon]

I can't wait until Pammy Wallin's case becomes public. She represents Saskatchewan and hasn't lived there in years. Her claim of a post office box in Wadena might not cut it. The Conservatives are likely holding off on releasing the details of this one until the long weekend in July.

[maryjane48]

these fools should go to jail

[Donald G]

Canada should have the right to audit every cent spent on behalf of Canada ... otherwise cancel the persons right to spend any money on behalf of Canada.

[maryjane48]

yes thats right donald, i agree, but these fools that got caught should see a day in court

[GordonH]

Wonder what ever happen to idea of having an elected senate, that was part of Stephen Harpers roots in Reform Party.

[Ken7]

yes thats right donald, i agree, but these fools that got caught should see a day in court

They should further be banned from parliment and the senate. They should lose their pensions and be dismissed immediately.

[maryjane48]

well said ken ,its got nothing to do with what party , but who thinks they can cheat the system

[oneh2obabe]

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff wrote a personal cheque to reimburse taxpayers for Sen. Mike Duffy’s improperly claimed living expenses.

The prime minister’s office confirmed Wednesday that Nigel Wright, a former Bay St. financier, was behind the $90,172 payment Duffy made earlier this year.

“The Government believes that taxpayers should not be on the hook for improper expense claims made by Senators,” Harper spokesperson Andrew MacDougall said in a statement.

“Mr. Duffy agreed to repay the expenses because it was the right thing to do. However, Mr. Duffy was unable to make a timely repayment,” MacDougall said.

“Mr. Wright therefore wrote a cheque from his personal account for the full amount owing so that Mr. Duffy could repay the outstanding amount,” he said.

Duffy has been at the centre of a spending controversy around his claims for living expenses for his home in suburban Ottawa.

The former television journalist had claimed that a cottage in Prince Edward Island, which he represents in the Senate, was his primary residence.

In February, Duffy announced that he would repay the cash, declaring that he would “never, ever take advantage of my position in any kind of inappropriate way.”

On Tuesday night, CTV reported that Wright had intervened to broker a deal to have Duffy reimburse living expenses associated with his home in Kanata, Ont., while auditors from Deloitte were still examining his claims.

That sparked a flurry of speculation about the source of the cash, whether it was taxpayers’ money, donations to the Conservative Party of Canada or even a private company.

That forced the prime minister’s office to clarify Thursday that Wright was the source of the repayment.

Duffy is one of three senators whose secondary living expenses were being examined by external auditors over allegations that they were claiming tens of thousands of dollars per year for accommodations in the Ottawa area, despite evidence that they spend more time there than at the homes they declared to be their primary residences.

In February, Duffy announced that he would repay the cash, declaring that he would “never, ever take advantage of my position in any kind of inappropriate way.”

On Tuesday night, CTV reported that Wright had intervened to broker a deal to have Duffy reimburse living expenses associated with his home in Kanata, Ont., while auditors from Deloitte were still examining his claims.

That sparked a flurry of speculation about the source of the cash, whether it was taxpayers’ money, donations to the Conservative Party of Canada or even a private company.

That forced the prime minister’s office to clarify Wednesday that Wright was the source of the repayment.

But federal New Democrats demanded an independent probe of the secret payment.

“On top of the original expense scandal, we now have allegations of unethical behaviour and cover-ups inside the Prime Minister’s Office—reaching right up to Stephen Harper’s Chief of Staff,” NDP MP Charlie Angus said in a statement.

“Conservatives must agree to an independent investigation into these troubling allegations involving his most senior advisors,” said Angus, the party’s ethics critic.

“The dark cloud of ethical failures hanging over the Prime Minister’s Office is growing larger,” he said.

Full article
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013 ... laims.html

[maryjane48]

lol i was just going to post that one , mabey mr wright should pay everyones tax bill , why just the criminal duffy?

[SurplusElect]

A government employee (Pm's chief of staff to boot) paid 90,000 to a Senator as a favor - after breaking the law?

How is this not illegal? Conflict of Interest?

So now Duffy will do what the Conservatives say - because he owes them 90 grand and a "get out of jail" situation?

[diggerdick]

A large part of the Senate is already just Harper's puppets.
Put in their, as a payoff

This just makes it look more obvious than usual

[Static]

Andrew Coyne: The only right thing left for Mike Duffy to do now is resign

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/05/15/andrew-coyne-the-only-right-thing-left-for-mike-duffy-to-do-now-is-resign/

I was wondering when he was going to be forced to resign. I am happy. He should be facing charges IMO

[oneh2obabe]

Duffy claimed Senate expenses while election campaigning
Social media, newspaper reports show election appearances, claims say 'Senate business'

The Canadian Press
Posted: May 16, 2013 8:50 AM ET
Last Updated: May 16, 2013 8:49 AM ET

Conservative Sen. Mike Duffy submitted expense claims while Parliament was dissolved during the last federal election, reporting he was on Senate business on days he appeared to be campaigning for the party.

The full extent of Duffy's Senate expenses during the writ period remains a mystery — the Conservative government is refusing to reveal the full breakdown of the senator's claims and his repayment of $90,172.24.

Complete article
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2 ... pping.html