19 senators to challenge auditor general's findings on expenses, others repay

Nineteen senators flagged with problematic expenses by the auditor general have opted to challenge the findings before a special arbitrator.

Six of those senators are among a group of nine being referred to the RCMP for a criminal review.

• Interactive: Who owes what in the Senate
• Manitoba Senator Janis Johnson repays ineligible Senate expenses
• Senators defend travel expenses, use of staff in audit responses

Friday marked the end of a 10-day grace period for senators named in the auditor general's report to decide whether to repay their questioned claims, or seek to have them quashed by former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie.

In all Binnie, will handle at least 19 cases that combined are worth more than $541,000, according to data posted to the Senate's website.

So far, senators named by auditor general Michael Ferguson have repaid almost $125,000 of the nearly $1 million flagged in a critical audit of Senate spending last month.

The updated figures on Friday showed that retired Liberal senator Vivienne Poy repaid $15,317 for travel claims that included trips for her work as a board member for a charitable organization and taking her staff to Toronto for the launch of a book she co-edited.

Four of the most influential senators -- Speaker Leo Housakos, his deputy Nicole Eaton, government leader Claude Carignan and Liberal leader James Cowan -- have already repaid about $24,000 in questionable claims.

Former Speaker Noel Kinsella paid back about $9,400 including a $5,663 tab for a trip he and his wife took to his brother-in-law's funeral.

Also this week, Conservative Sen. Janis Johnson repaid the $22,706 the auditor general said she owed for questionable travel claims.

Much like her colleagues, Johnson said she had done nothing wrong, but wanted to repay the Senate out of concern that the arbitration process will increase the costs to taxpayers.

The auditor general's report cost $23.6 million, and identified almost $1 million in dubious housing, office and travel expenses. Nine senators have been referred to the RCMP for a criminal investigation, while 21 more flagged with problematic claims could also face a similar probe if the Mounties choose to follow up.

Six of those headed to the RCMP have opted for arbitration, including the two sitting senators caught in this group: former Conservative Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu and Liberal Colin Kenny, who together owe more than $96,000.

Three others flagged to the Mounties attention could still opt for arbitration, including former Liberal senators Rod Zimmer, whose bill tops $176,000, and Marie-P. Charette-Poulin, whose bill tops $131,000.