NDP Calls For Election Canada To Investigate Duffy’s Campaign Expenses
Elections Canada needs to get to the bottom of “double-dipping” allegations, says NDP
TORONTO –NDP Democratic Reform critic Craig Scott sent a letter to Elections Canada Friday, asking for an investigation of Mike Duffy’s expense claims from the last federal election as the Conservatives ‘Senate-Gate” scandal grows bigger with resignation of another Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin resigning from caucus as her expenses, like Duffy’s, are being investigated.
“Media reports indicate that the Senator may have been claiming taxpayer-funded expenses while campaigning during the last election,” said Scott. “Today, I wrote to the Commissioner of Elections Canada asking for them to investigate possible Elections Act violations and get to the bottom of this troubling affair.”
Wallin stepped aside from the Conservative caucus Friday as she awaits results of an external audit into her travel expenses.
“I have been involved in the external audit process since December 2012 and I have been cooperating fully and willingly with the auditors. I have met with the auditors, answered all the questions and provided all requested documentation,” Wallin said in a statement issued Friday evening.
“I had anticipated that the audit process would be complete by now, but given that it continues, I have decided to recuse myself from the Conservative Caucus and I will have no further comment until the audit process is complete.”
Wallin’s news comes a day after Duffy also stepped down from the Conservative caucus over an ongoing expense claim scandal.
Some $321,000 in travel expenses claimed by Wallin are currently the subject of an external audit by the same firm that probed housing expense claims by Duffy and two other Conservative senators Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau.
