RCMP looking at Senate expense claims following audit, critical committee report

OTTAWA – The RCMP says it is examining Senate expense claims following an independent audit and a critical report from the upper chamber’s internal economy committee.

But the Mounties add it is too early to say whether they will start an investigation of accusations that three senators improperly claimed a housing allowance.

Sgt. Julie Gagnon, a force spokeswoman, says the matter is currently with the RCMP national division’s sensitive and international investigations section.

Based upon an evaluation of the information at hand, the RCMP may or may not initiate an investigation.

The allowance is intended to compensate those who must maintain a secondary residence in Ottawa.

Independent auditor Deloitte recently concluded that three senators — Conservative Mike Duffy, former Conservative Patrick Brazeau and Liberal Mac Harb — live primarily in the national capital region, but that the rules governing housing claims were unclear.

Still, the Senate’s Tory-dominated internal economy committee said in the case of Harb and Brazeau the rules were “amply clear,” and that the two senators must pay back the allowance.