Brazeau fights order to repay dodgy Senate housing allowance claims

OTTAWA – Patrick Brazeau says he broke no rules when he claimed almost $35,000 in a Senate housing allowance and he’s exploring all options to overturn an order to pay the money back.

Brazeau, a one-time Conservative senator who now sits as an independent, was one of three senators ordered by the Senate’s internal economy committee last week to repay inappropriately claimed housing allowances.

Brazeau notes that the committee ordered reimbursement despite the conclusion of independent auditor Deloitte that the Senate rules regarding primary and secondary residences are unclear.

Because of that lack of clarity, Deloitte couldn’t conclude whether Brazeau, Conservative Sen. Mike Duffy or Liberal Mac Harb had violated the rules in claiming that their primary residences were outside the national capital region.

Brazeau says he’ll seek greater clarification of the committee’s decision and try to have the ruling reversed.

Harb has already indicated he’ll fight his repayment order in court; Duffy voluntarily repaid in March just over $90,000 in housing allowances and related living expenses claims.