Senate opens door to independent oversight of senators’ spending
OTTAWA — The Senate is opening the door to the idea of outsiders taking a second look at its spending.
“We have not and will not waver from our commitment to be more transparent, efficient and accountable,” Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos, chairman of the Senate standing committee on internal economy, budgets and administration, said in a joint statement with Sen. Jane Cordy, the Liberal deputy chair.
When auditor general Michael Ferguson released his scathing report on the Senate expense scandal last year, one of his key recommendations was the creation of an independent oversight body to ensure that senators would no longer police themselves though the internal economy committee.
Senate leadership appeared at the time to be cool to the idea, instead pointing to a binding arbitration process overseen by retired Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie they set up for senators who wished to challenge the findings of the auditor general.