You’d think former journalists would know better. Apparently not.
First, Mike Duffy got caught claiming expenses on his vacation property that only applied to his primary residence. The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff wrote Mike a cheque to cover what he needed to pay back, got caught, and had to resign. Our Prime Minister claims he knew nothing about it.
Now Pamela Wallin needs to pay back more than 100-grand as well because she was reimbursed for expenses that an audit by Deloitte shows didn’t qualify.
Pigs, both of them, and that’s an insult to the fine animals that provide us with bacon.
What galls me and the rest of the Canadian taxpayers is that in their former lives, these two bobble-headed news hounds would have salivated over such a story. They would have worn their best smug TV looks as they waxed on about senators with senses of entitlement. So here they are, living inside the stories they sought to expose.
And it just serves to support my belief that the senate should be elected or abolished. Too often it’s viewed as a golden parachute into excess on the taxpayer dime. How dare Duffy pay for his vacation home by misleading the government about it. There is no way to explain that one as an innocent mistake. And it’s come to light that Wallin billed travel expenses for meetings that took place over the phone! Seriously?! Seriously.
Now the RCMP is looking into Wallin’s books and there will be a review of every Senator’s expense reports. One has to wonder why there isn’t already a regular review by an independent body. The old farts on the Senate had better hope they kept things clean or they’re going the way of the Duffster and Pam whose reputations are tarnished for good. But they won’t likely even lose their Senate seats. It can’t be a coincidence that the two people at the centre of this scandal are former journalists. On behalf of those still in the profession, for shame you guys, for shame.
Is it me, or is the simple solution to these type of problems so far in the realm of common sense that it is beyond the mental capacity of most and definitely our Senators! Install a financial controllers office where all reimbursement receipts are submitted for approval or as we have seen rejection. This way you don’t get reimbursed unless its been approved through the financial controllers office, I.E. stop the problem in its tracks, before it becomes a problem!
May I also suggest, that all Senators be provided with a copy of the latest KPMG tax guide which has several chapters which deals with legitimate business expenses as defined by CRA.
I think the solution is even more simple than that Allan. I don’t believe that any clear-thinking Canadian actually believes that any of these senators doesn’t already know exactly what they are or are not allowed to expense. They know in detail. They all talk among themselves, they all have accountants and they all know (or knew) that their expenses are rarely, if ever, checked for legitimacy. For minor infractions they should have to reimburse immediately and for major infractions, (Duffy and Wallin) reimbursement, criminal charges, immediate dismissal, loss of pension and public stoning. OK, I’ll lay off on the public stoning as long as they implement the other 4 conditions. Watch infractions immediately drop to ZERO! No more `mistakes’.
Lisa, don’t you think journalists should turn down appointments to the Senate? Journalists aren’t supposed to cozy up to those in power, so this could have all been avoided if Wallin and Duffy had had some integrity. By the way, Duffy’s nickname was “the Senator” long before he got appointed — everybody knew he wanted the job so badly.
Yes I do, Dan. It’s hypocritical. So are talk show hosts who golf with politicians. I could name several. I always avoided those invitations, and believe me, I got them.