OTTAWA — Auditor General Michael Ferguson's two-year probe of Senate expenses flagged nine cases that he said Tuesday were so serious they should be immediately referred to the RCMP.
In each case, Ferguson said, current or former senators were making claims for living expenses incurred in the National Capital Region when flight patterns suggested they lived in the region and not in the province they represented.
Ferguson also highlighted cases were there was "a pervasive lack of evidence" or contrary evidence that prevented auditors from determining whether expenses incurred by these senators was really done for Senate business or if it they were personal.
Here are the nine cases that the AG recommended be sent to the Mounties.
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)
Expenses related to a primary residence that may have been incorrectly listed as Sherbrooke, Que., rather than the Ottawa area: $21,355
Travel expenses related to his victims’ rights organization: $38,577
Hospitality expenses that were not for parliamentary business: $399
Postage to mail copies of the senator’s book and taxi expenses: $745
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Fred Chartrand)
Expenses related to a primary residence that may have been incorrectly listed as Winnipeg rather than Ottawa: $7,528
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Tom Hanson)
Travel that may not have been primarily for Senate business: $35,549
Salaries and benefits for staff for work related to personal business: undisclosed.
(Photo credit: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images)
Expenses related to a primary residence that may have been incorrectly listed as Moncton rather than Gatineau, Que.: $63,826
Travel that may not have been for parliamentary purposes: $46,225.
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)
Travel that may have been for a personal not-for-profit organization promoting wines, cuisine and tourism: $22,982
Ineligible travel to a family members' convocation in Kingston, a golf trip to Montreal with former senators, meetings with family members and a tailor, a fishing trip: $11,252
Spouse travel without him, likely to do her own work in Ottawa: $10,613
Used his staff member to drive from Ottawa to Halifax and fly back: $1,559
Ineligible hospitality, taxis, courier charges: $1,682
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)
Expenses related to a primary residence that may have been incorrectly listed as St. John's rather than Ottawa: $17,292
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)
Trips that may have been to attend to private business interests: $4,415
Staff travel to the senator's home in B.C. for non-parliamentary reasons, such as parties and fundraisers: $43,727
Possible double-dipping by a contractor: $12,000
Possible non-parliamentary related contract by other supplier: $6,250
Gifts without receipts: $728
Potential ineligible family dinner: $468
(Photo credit: The Canadian Press/Liam Richards)
Expenses related to a primary residence that may have been incorrectly listed as Winnipeg rather than Ottawa: $149,656
Undescribed trips to Montreal and a trip to Saskatoon: $6,293
Possible trip to Toronto for a board meeting and personal trip to Saskatoon: $3,578
Contracts with no evidence of work performed: $12,453
Taxis for personal activities: $2,072
Possible ineligible miscellaneous expenses: $645
Gifts that should not have been expensed: $705
Gifts without receipts: $612
Items not returned to the senate: a digital camera and computer equipment
Expenses related to activities that were undocumented and may not have been parliamentary: $131,434
Travel that may have been related to her work as a lawyer: $31,161
Travel that may have been related to her spouse’ activities or visiting family members: $9,717
Contracting expenses that may not have been related to senate business: $82,746
Questionable hospitality expenses: $5,755
Taxi fares for possible personal activities: $1,443
Courier and other expenses for possible personal activities: $612
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