Senator Mike Duffy & PEI residency scandal

[GostHacked]

Looks like we have another one.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2013/02/13/sk-political-scientist-questions-pamela-wallin-senate-eligibility-1302.html

Senator Pamela Wallin insists her home is Saskatchewan, in response to questions about whether she meets the residency requirements to sit in the Senate.

"The question of home is pretty clear to me," Wallin said from Ottawa Wednesday when asked where she lives. "Saskatchewan is my home. I have lived and worked and continue to work not only in Ottawa but around this country."

Senators are required to be residents of the province they represent, but according to Howard Leeson, political science professor emeritus at the University of Regina, since she was appointed in 2009, Wallin has given less than satisfactory answers to questions about her connection to the province.

[g_bambino]

We don't know that they are fraudulent yet. Duffy is required to own property in the province he represents and he sure can't be in two places at once.

He is constitutionally required to reside in the province for which he is appointed.

Of course, what "residence" means isn't exactly clear.

[ed.: sp.]

Edited February 14, 2013 by g_bambino

[g_bambino]

The system of Canadian Senators who are essentially a rubber stamp appointed by those in power..

Er... they were appointed at the direction of the prime minister "in power" at the time, but they each cease to be a "rubber stamp" for that individual (if, indeed they ever were, since the prime minister can do nothing to a senator to make that senator follow the prime minister's diktat) when the prime minister who directed their appointment is "out of power". The majority of senators right now were not chosen by Harper.

[PIK]

Funny how harb is almost forgotton when his is a real joke, getting a house in pembroke, just a little over the 100k from ottawa. That is real fraud but of course he is getting a free ride.

[cybercoma]

He is constitutionally required to reside in the province for which he is appointed.

Of course, what "residence" means isn't exactly clear.

[ed.: sp.]

If he can't get medicaid and doesn't qualify for other provincial benefits there, I think it's safe to say he doesn't "reside" there.

[g_bambino]

If he can't get medicaid and doesn't qualify for other provincial benefits there, I think it's safe to say he doesn't "reside" there.

Possibly. But, that's still just an opinion.

I don't know if there's anything in the Senate's standing rules that state what requirements a senator must meet in order to be considered a resident of the province he or she was appointed. There's certainly nothing in the law.

[scribblet]

Funny how harb is almost forgotton when his is a real joke, getting a house in pembroke, just a little over the 100k from ottawa. That is real fraud but of course he is getting a free ride.

The media seems to have collective amnesia on that one.

[BubberMiley]

The media seems to have collective amnesia on that one.

I realize that playing the "we are victims of the MSM" card is all the CPC has when its dealings are exposed, but what do you make of the fact that the Toronto Star has written about Harb as recently as the last 12 hours?

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/14/senate_expense_controversy_all_quiet_at_mac_harbs_westmeath_home.html

[Peanutbutter]

I'm not sure if I'd call it a scandal. it's hardly a scandal. How much money are we talking about? A few thousand? If he is found to be misinterpreting the rules he should be made to pay the money back for sure.

[Topaz]

There's another side to all of this in my view and it concerns trust and honesty in government. Most Canadians don't trust or believe most politicans as it is and IF Duffy was a residence of PEI, then shouldn't he already have a health card? Does he have an Ontario health card?

[Peanutbutter]

There's another side to all of this in my view and it concerns trust and honesty in government. Most Canadians don't trust or believe most politicans as it is and IF Duffy was a residence of PEI, then shouldn't he already have a health card? Does he have an Ontario health card?

I'm certainly not defending his actions, that's for sure. It really doesn't look too good for Senator Duffy and I have a feeling he'll wind up paying it back. I think his primary residence is in Ontario and not in PEI as he is claiming but I'm not on the inside track so who knows really.

[Guest]

If he's caught ripping off the taxpayer by cheating on his expenses he should go to jail. They all should, if guilty.

[Peanutbutter]

If he's caught ripping off the taxpayer by cheating on his expenses he should go to jail. They all should, if guilty.

There could've been a discrepancy in the interpretation of the guidelines of what's permitted and what's not. If we've learned anything about the government is that the things they publish are hardly in English that normal people can understand.

We all should be patient, not jump to conclusions and only make a decision once all the information is made public which is not happening right now.

[Guest]

Absolutely. That's why I said, if guilty.

[WWWTT]

There's another side to all of this in my view and it concerns trust and honesty in government. Most Canadians don't trust or believe most politicans as it is and IF Duffy was a residence of PEI, then shouldn't he already have a health card? Does he have an Ontario health card?

Lack of trust in politicians typically favour conservative/republican politicians.

during voting time.

WWWTT

[jacee]

Lack of trust in politicians typically favour conservative/republican politicians.

during voting time.

WWWTT

Harper could have made better choices for senators, but he couldn’t help himself. So great is his contempt for democratic governance that he felt obliged to fill the senate with the ethically challenged and other losers. While others are decrying the descent into bathos, the Senate farce could be seen as just another arrow in Harper’s voter-suppression quiver. The more public disdain for government, in Harper’s calculations, the better.

http://rosslandtelegraph.com/news/comment-brazeau-harper-and-idle-no-more-23253#.UR471jdZ6JI

Harper knows exactly what he's doing: Concentrating all power in his own hands.

Edited February 15, 2013 by jacee

[Topaz]

I can't see what difference it make being elected or appointed, it all about the person's life experience and character and so far some of these "new" people have a character flaw. how does a senator being elected make a better, upright and trustworthy senator? I'm totally against getting rid of the senator because then we have a more powerful parliament and depending on the PM, we could created more of a problem, unless rules were changed about the power the PMO has.

[Shakeyhands]

I realize that playing the "we are victims of the MSM" card is all the CPC has when its dealings are exposed, but what do you make of the fact that the Toronto Star has written about Harb as recently as the last 12 hours?

http://www.thestar.c...meath_home.html

it's the usual "DEFLECT" defense. It's all the CPC has....

[shortlived]

resident means to have a permanent residence (as opposed to temporary residence) you reside at except in quebec where you just need to hold property

Edited February 16, 2013 by shortlived