Tories agree to open doors to secretive Senate committee studying expenses

OTTAWA – The Conservative government has agreed to open the doors to the secretive Senate committee studying Mike Duffy’s improper expenses.

A Senate official speaking on condition of anonymity says Tories on the internal economy committee will put forward a motion to hold the meeting in public.

Liberals in the Senate — and Duffy himself — have been lobbying for the internal economy committee to open the meeting.

The Liberals also suggest that committee chairman David Tkachuk should step down.

Tkachuk revealed in an interview that he discussed the review of Duffy’s expenses with Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff.

Wright resigned after it came to light he wrote a $90,000 personal cheque to Duffy to help him repay inappropriate expense claims.