Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair says the results of the auditor general鈥檚 investigation into senators鈥� expenses should be released 鈥渁s soon as possible,鈥� after 麻豆传媒 reported that at least 40 current and former senators have received letters about questionable expense claims.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen, since the beginning of this whole sordid affair, Liberal and Conservative senators taking the public to the cleaners. We鈥檝e known about it for some time,鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e hearing now that there will be 40 senators mentioned in the auditor general鈥檚 report. I think that report should be released as soon as possible, frankly.鈥�
that Auditor General Michael Ferguson sent confidential letters to at least 40 current and former senators about questionable expense claims.
Sources said former Liberal senator Rose-Marie Losier-Cool has been asked to account for about $100,000. When 麻豆传媒 contacted her by phone, she refused to comment and hung up.
Sources said that other senators, including Conservative Sen. Dan Lang, have repaid the money. Lang would not confirm that to 麻豆传媒.
Most of the senators approached by CTV were tight-lipped about the audit. Conservative Sen. Richard Neufeld told reporters Wednesday, that the audit is not yet complete and senators have signed confidentiality letters that prevent them from discussing it.
鈥業ce-cold camembert鈥�
Speaking to reporters, that she has been asked to clarify some expenses, but was not asked to reimburse anything and is not 鈥減articularly鈥� worried about the final report.
She said most of the questions she was asked 鈥渨ere not very sophisticated.鈥�
鈥淭here were a couple of times that my assistant put in for a breakfast when I was on a plane and they say I shouldn鈥檛 have claimed because I should have eaten that breakfast,鈥� she said.
Ruth's expense claims over a two-year period include $142,797 in living and travel expenses.
鈥淲ell, those breakfasts are pretty awful, if you want ice-cold camembert with broken crackers.鈥�
Ruth said those kinds of questions don鈥檛 鈥渞eally have anything to do with Senate business.
鈥淚f I eat cold camembert and soda crackers, is that Senate business?
Forensic investigation
Ferguson鈥檚 office has said that the audit of senators鈥� expenses would be released before the end of June. But Mulcair said that needs to happen sooner.
鈥淲e鈥檙e learning that senators have apparently been using public money as their personal piggy bank,鈥� Mulcair said.
鈥淐anadians have a right to know what鈥檚 in that report and they should stop stalling it.鈥�
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Parliament and the Senate must demonstrate accountability and transparency.
鈥淚 certainly look forward to seeing the auditor general鈥檚 final report,鈥�
This is the first time in Canadian history that the auditor general has done a complete forensic investigation of the money senators spend.
Auditors are matching travel and expense claims with phone records. They鈥檝e been combing through the expenses of 117 current and former senators who sat in the Red Chamber from April 2001 to March 2013.
In November 2013, the Senate suspended three former Conservatives -- Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin -- over inappropriate expense claims.
Liberal Mac Harb resigned from the Senate in August 2013 after repaying ineligible housing and travel expenses.
Duffy now faces 31 charges, including multiple counts of fraud and breach of trust. His trial will begin next week.
Brazeau and Harb have also been charged with defrauding the Senate by making false or misleading expense claims.
No charges have been laid against Wallin. The RCMP investigation into her expenses is ongoing.
None of the allegations have yet been tested in court.
During question period Wednesday, NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus asked if the prime minister would promise to turn Ferguson鈥檚 audit over to the RCMP, 鈥渟o we can determine if any other of these senators should be up on charges.鈥�
Harper鈥檚 parliamentary secretary Paul Calandra answered by saying that the auditor general was 鈥渋nvited by the Senate鈥� to examine the expense claims.
Senate Opposition Leader that the auditor general鈥檚 report will come back to the Senate 鈥渋n the form of advice and recommendations.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檒l take those very seriously,鈥� he said.
