Confidence Crisis

"From the Senate's point of view, the credibility ... of the Senate has been attacked and diminished. My personal preference would have been, and will be, to have another set of eyes look at it from a different lens. We're looking at it from an expense point of view. The police will look at it from the point of view of is there anything in here that will lead to a reasonable probability of a charge succeeding.
"I would be very surprised if they were not and will not be looking at it.
Liberal Senate Leader James Cowan

The stately Senate of Canada is experiencing the kind of scrutiny that no public body, particularly one imputed to represent Parliament's 'chamber of sober second thought', where a selection of outstanding Canadians are appointed to sit within as an ennobling experience, are bemused that among them have been found a handful of members possessed of less-than-noble intentions when it comes to scamming the Canadian taxpayer.

The privilege of sitting in the heritage plush Red Chamber, of being appointed to various committees that will ponder and cast their votes for or against government initiatives meant to benefit the country certainly pays a generous enough salary. What conceivable need then is there to claim unentitled benefits, unless those that make the claims are representative of less-than-noble character?

Most members of the Senate have no wish to claim entitlements that clearly test personal ethics. All it takes is a handful with an eye to enriching themselves at the expense of the public, to blacken the good name of an elderly institution hosting elderly statesmen and women whose experience and professionalism in debating issues and crystallizing initiatives further the interests of the country.

Clearly enough the venal, self-availing actions of three Senators has cast the honour system the Senate relies upon to guide its members' decision-making with respect to personal financing claims into disrepute. Honour was somehow mislaid when Senators Duffy, Brazeau and Harb availed themselves of the claims for living expenses permitted those members of the Senate living outside the 100-km area of the National Capital.

Senator Mike Duffy who has lived in his own home in Ottawa for many years decided in his wisdom that purchasing a summer home in Prince Edward Island, which he represents in the Senate could be claimed as his permanent residence, although he merely visits there, and continues to live permanently in Ottawa. Senator Mac Harb has also lived in his home in Ottawa for decades, but bought and listed his primary residence in a bungalow near Pembroke, just outside the 100-km limit.

And Senator Patrick Brazeau stayed a mere ten percent of the 549 days under review at a residence in Maniwaki, which he too claimed to represent his primary home. Senator David Tkachuk, chief of the internal economy committee which undertook the investigation into the unfolding scandal that rocked the Senate, informed that body that it had a "higher obligation" with its finances, and the manner in which it dealt with the issue might very well "determine our future".

Senator Duffy, accurately reading the writing on the wall, returned $90,000 to the Senate finances. Senator Harb has put his Westmeath summer bungalow up for sale, and has hired a lawyer, to contest the ruling that he has acted out of order. He has chosen to take the Senate to court over the matter. Unless, of course, the RCMP is called in, and criminal charges are laid and he is himself hauled into court.

Which seems far more likely an outcome of this sordid affair.