Former senator Lowell Murray, who was government leader in the upper chamber during the Mulroney years, tells CTV Question Period he believes the senate expenses scandal has been 鈥渧ery damaging鈥� to the institution and there needs to be an open debate on the matter.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 fatal or not I don鈥檛 know,鈥� Murray told CTVQP host Kevin Newman. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 another kind of constitutional question that will be fatal in terms of public opinion and really for their own reputation and self-respect all these good people have got to search their own minds and hearts and take a part in a debate that really shouldn鈥檛 be whipped.
鈥淚t鈥檚 got to be one where Senators are free to express their views on what has happened and what they expect to be done, whether there are further sanctions that have got to be taken against various Senators.鈥�
The Harper government has so far defended Conservative Sen. Mike Duffy " by repaying $90,000 in living expenses.
Duffy has said confusing paperwork caused him to mistakenly claim his primary residence was in Prince Edward Island, not Ottawa, where he has lived for years, and Senate government leader Marjory LeBreton backed up that assessment and promised clearer rules.
Liberal Mac Harb and Independent Patrick Brazeau were to pay back housing and mileage expenses, plus interest, that they claimed dating back to April 1, 2011. That ruling came after independent audits of the three senators鈥� expenses.
Senators can claim an annual housing allowance of up to $22,000 if their primary residence is more than 100 kilometres outside of Ottawa.
麻豆影视 reported Friday that the into improper spending by three senators whose expense filings were the subject of external audit
鈥溾�his business reflects badly on an awful lot of very good Senators who are extremely capable and are doing far better work, making a far better contribution to legislation and policy than they鈥檙e given credit for,鈥� Murray said.
Murray believes Prime Minister Stephen Harper and LeBreton will have to deal more firmly with the situation.
鈥淗arper, whatever any one may say about his policies or his governance, there鈥檚 never been a breath of scandal attached to him personally and why should he wear this?鈥� Murray said. 鈥淭he short answer is he shouldn鈥檛 and he鈥檒l find out in a matter of days this is going down very badly, and he鈥檚 going to have to find a way, which I鈥檓 sure he will, to disassociate himself, to cut people off. 鈥�
That might involve some reflection on Duffy鈥檚 future. He serves in the Senate as a representative of Prince Edward Island, and the auditor鈥檚 report casts doubt on his constitutional residency requirement.
鈥淚t turns out from the auditor鈥檚 report that Senator Duffy does not pay his income taxes from Prince Edward Island, I presume he does that from Ontario,鈥� Murray said. 鈥淎nd when you file your income tax as you know, you have to sign a declaration saying, I am a resident in whatever province. If he signed a solemn declaration saying he was a resident of Ontario then it鈥檚 hard to see how he is remains eligible to represent P.E.I. in the Senate"
