Members of the scandal-plagued Senate are hoping a comprehensive audit of all Senate expenses restores public confidence in the upper chamber.
Sen. Marjory LeBreton, the Senate鈥檚 government leader, introduced a motion Tuesday calling for auditor general Michael Ferguson to look into all Senate expenses, which will include expense claims filed by individual senators.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of people call and send emails and I think it鈥檚 time to respond to those people,鈥� she said prior to introducing the motion.
LeBreton also called on Liberal Senate Leader James Cowan to support her motion.
Cowan said that while he鈥檚 in favour of any measure that will improve accountability and transparency in the Senate, he鈥檚 looking forward to debating the motion on Wednesday.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really know what (LeBreton) had in mind,鈥� Cowan told Power Play on Tuesday. 鈥淲e weren鈥檛 consulted about her motion.鈥�
Meanwhile, the Senate Ethics Officer announced on Tuesday that she is suspending her review of the expense scandal after the issue was referred to the Mounties.
The RCMP said Monday the force has started to review relevant documents related to the expense scandal, but officials have yet to determine if an investigation will be launched.
Harper grilled on Duffy's repayment
The opposition continued to demand answers of Prime Minister Stephen Harper during question period on Tuesday over the extent of his knowledge about a cheque to Sen. Mike Duffy that was used to repay more than $90,000 in improperly claimed expenses.
麻豆影视 learned last month that Nigel Wright, Harper鈥檚 former chief of staff, had written Duffy a personal cheque to repay the expenses.
Canada鈥檚 Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson has opened a probe into the $90,000 cheque and the New Democrats have asked the RCMP to also open an investigation into the matter.
Wright resigned when news of the $90,000 cheque broke, and the prime minister has maintained he knew nothing about the arrangement until it was reported in the media.
While the opposition鈥檚 questions to Harper about the payment have been increasingly pointed, the prime minister has maintained that he鈥檚 been 鈥渧ery clear鈥� on the matter.
鈥淭his matter came to my attention two weeks ago after speculation appeared in the media,鈥� Harper said. 鈥淥n Wednesday, May the 15th I was told about it, at that very moment I demanded that my office ensure the public is informed, and they were informed appropriately.鈥�
鈥淧rior to that time it was my understanding that Mr. Duffy has paid back his own expenses,鈥� he said.
However, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said while the opposition is asking 鈥渧ery simple, straightforward questions,鈥� the prime minister is not answering them.
鈥淲hat changed from the time the prime minister expressed his total, absolute support of Nigel Wright and the moment that he accepted his resignation, just three days later,鈥� Mulcair asked.
鈥淢r. Wright accepted full responsibility for his error in this matter, he offered his resignation and I accepted that resignation,鈥� Harper replied.
A motion that proposes an end to all funding to the Senate beginning July 1, 2013, tabled by NDP Treasury Board critic Mathieu Ravignat, is expected to be debated Wednesday.
In addition to Duffy, two other senators -- Patrick Brazeau and Mac Harb -- were ordered to pay back housing expenses deemed to be improperly claimed by an outside audit. Auditors are also examining the travel expenses of Sen. Pamela Wallin, but the results of that probe have not yet been released.
