Politic?

So Then, What's The Problem?

"Senator Wallin has maintained that her 'primary residence' is in Wadena, Saskatchewan, so that she can collect travel allowances from the Senate.
"I believe, however, that Senator Wallin, in addition to legitimate Senate use, uses her Toronto condo as her primary residence to attend non-Senate related board meetings and other functions outside of the scope of her Senate duties of which she has submitted fraudulent expense claims and was subsequently reimbursed by the Senate."
"I believe these inconsistencies and discrepancies on Senator Wallin's 'Microsoft Outlook' and her handwritten calendar(s) warrant further investigation and will afford evidence of the named offences.
"I believe that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Senator Wallin committed the offences of fraud and breach of trust contrary to the Criminal Code."
RCMP lead investigator, Const. Michael Johnson

"We believe that an objective review of all the evidence will demonstrate that there was no attempt to defraud the people of Canada.
"The forensic auditors have already advised the Senate, as the Senate heard this week when people were referring to the appearance of Deloitte before the Senate, that they did not find any evidence of fraud or attempted fraud. We believe that is the case."
Terrence O'Sullivan, Senator Pamela Wallin's defence lawyer

In her impassioned defence, appearing before the Senate committee investigating allegations of wrong-doing against herself, Senator Wallin accused former government leader in the Senate, Marjory LeBreton, of exercising a vindictive vendetta against her, because of jealousy, irritated by her criticism and by the positive attention she has garnered through her many activities. For her part, RCMP investigators quote Ms. LeBreton as having informed them she felt that Ms. Wallin had not intended to "scam the system".

Taxpayers felt differently when it was revealed through investigative reportage, that Senator Wallin, who sits on a number of corporate boards, felt herself to be quite entitled to bill her travel expenses for her private board meeting appearances to the Senate. This penchant for erroneously, mistakenly, accidentally, incidentally claiming expenses she incurred having nothing whatever to do with the Senate of Canada may be one of the issues that had troubled Senate finance officials away back in 2009 when Ms. Wallin was warned about overnight stays in Toronto and car-service costs.

The Senate's internal economy committee appears to have overruled the concerns of the finance officials, however, only latterly catching up to their concerns this summer when it too began to express concern and look more closely into the expense claims. And what whopping claims, totalling over a half-million dollars from 2009 to 2013. Some entitlements, that represents. The 40-page filing by the RCMP delineates a timeline of events that resulted in an independent Deloitte audit of those travel expense claims.

The RCMP investigators reached their own conclusion that Ms. Wallin's Toronto condominium was claimed "as her primary residence" for "functions outside the scope of her Senate duties", and that, as a result, she committed herself to filing "fraudulent expense claims" to the Senate of Canada. This very naughty activity conducted anywhere else but in government; say in private industry for example, would see the individual involved out on her elegant back-end and conceivably facing criminal charges.

The most immediate punishment Senator Wallin faces is suspension from the Senate without pay.

Investigators representing the RCMP allege fraud and breach of trust against Senator Wallin, as a result of their research into the activities leading to her current situation. Fraud and breach of trust are indictable offences. Should the matter be brought into a court of law, as it most certainly seems headed for, and should Ms. Wallin be convicted of the charges as alleged, any such conviction would automatically end her Senate career.

Yet to be investigated are details relating to Senator Wallin's electronic Senate calendar, altered extensively during an audit of her expenses. She insists that then-chairman of the committee overseeing spending rules, Senator David Tkachuk, had recommended she make changes to her calendar, while Senator Tkachuk takes exception to her explanation, denying he had made any such suggestion. But over 500 alterations were made.

Senator Wallin is complacent in her belief that she has conducted herself impeccably, beyond any manner of criticism, that her sterling reputation as an honest and competent senator will help her to rise above the false charges that have been laid against her by those in the Senate who have their own agenda, part of which is to cast public suspicion on the institution they are proud of and of being an integral part of, and extend that suspicion to their own activities, simply through a sense of sanctimonious nastiness.

Obviously, all's right with her world.