XPost: bc.politics, ont.politics, can.politics   
   XPost: ab.politics   
   From: ConsRCons@govt.cda   
      
   Now let's take a look at the claims of MPs and government aides.   
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   Postmedia News - December 27, 2013   
      
      
      
   Senators cut expenses in wake of spending scandal   
      
   Claims for travel, hospitality, including drinks and swag, way down from   
   the previous 12 months   
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   OTTAWA — Canada’s senators — viewed by many as high-spending   
   parliamentarians in the wake of a year-long spending scandal — cut their   
   expenses by almost two per cent over the last 12 months compared to the   
   same period pre-scandal.   
      
   That decline between the two 12-month periods includes nearly cutting in   
   half the amount spent on hospitality, such as food, drinks and Senate swag.   
      
   Overall, senators expensed more than $18.9 million between December 2011   
   and November 2012 on travel, hospitality, their offices and staff, and   
   housing in the capital. Between December 2012 and November 2013 — the 12   
   months that the spending scandal was ongoing — that figure dropped to   
   $18.6 million, a decline of about $317,000, or a decrease of 1.67 per   
   cent, according to an analysis of Senate quarterly expense reports.   
      
   The last 12 months has seen four senators audited and ordered to repay   
   questionable claims that totalled about $520,000. Mac Harb, a one-time   
   Liberal senator, resigned in August, while the Senate voted on Nov. 5,   
   2013, to suspend senators Pamela Wallin, Patrick Brazeau and Mike Duffy   
   without pay.   
      
   All are under RCMP investigation for their expense claims. None have   
   been charged with any crime.   
      
   The spending scrutiny of those four has been extended to others in the   
   chamber.   
      
   During the last 12 months, hospitality spending, which includes meals   
   and handouts such as Senate pins, dropped by almost 42 per cent compared   
   to the previous 12-month period. The amount senators spent on   
   hospitality over the last 12 months totalled almost $89,000 compared to   
   the $152,675 spent in the previous period, a difference of almost $64,000.   
      
   A similar drop is found in the amount senators claimed in travelling   
   around the country on what is deemed to be ”Senate business.” This   
   “other” travel category — which excludes “regular” travel between   
   Ottawa   
   and the province a senator represents — saw spending decline to about   
   $859,000 in 2013 from the $1.46 million logged in 2012, a drop of about   
   $606,000, or a decrease of about 41 per cent.   
      
   Spending on “regular” travel declined to $3.65 million from $4.14   
   million, a difference of about $488,000, or a decrease of almost 12 per   
   cent.   
      
   Housing and meal claims declined to $1.38 million from $1.5 million, a   
   difference of about $126,500 or a decrease of about 8.4 per cent.   
      
   Only office spending went up during the period under review: Spending   
   there rose to $12.66 million from $11.69 million, an increase of about   
   $966,000 or 8.26 per cent.   
      
   The reports reviewed in the Postmedia News analysis begin with the   
   December 2011 to February 2012 quarter, and end with the most recently   
   posted quarter of September to November 2013. The analysis included all   
   senators who posted expense reports for the most recent quarter,   
   including four senators who resigned or retired: former Liberals Harb   
   and Rod Zimmer, and former Conservatives David Braley and Gerald Comeau.   
      
   Sen. Scott Tannas was not in the Senate during the entire time under   
   review. The Albertan joined the Senate in March 2013.   
      
   The quarterly expense reports provide an overview of spending by   
   specific categories, but don’t provide a detailed breakdown, such as how   
   much of the travel costs were spent on seat upgrades, or the precise   
   amount of travel within 100 kilometres from their declared primary   
   residence, which is logged under office expenses.   
      
      
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        “It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save   
   the environment.”    ― Ansel Adams   
      
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