Senator Leo Housakos

Province: Quebec

Appointment date: 8 January 2009

Findings—staff travel

We found instances of travel expenses incurred by a staff member and approved by the Senator that were not for parliamentary business.

1. In 2012, the Senator hosted a St. Valentine’s ball in Montréal, which was organized by a third party. However, we found that one member of the Senator’s staff travelled to Montréal on six occasions to assist in preparations for the event. Given that the ball was the Senator’s personal activity, we determined that travel by the staff member was not for parliamentary business. The cost of this travel was $1,609.

Findings—goods and services

We found instances where expenses for professional services incurred by the Senator were not in accordance with the Senate’s rules, policies, or guidelines.

2. The Senator contracted an individual to provide consulting services for research on Senate reform and for various bills in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 fiscal years. Most of the work performed by the contractor related to parliamentary business. However, we found that some of the activities invoiced by the contractor, including community outreach and media preparation, were not part of the contract. We estimated that these expenses were $6,710.

The Senator’s comments

Item 1:

• The event was not a “personal activity” but a charity event organized by AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Philanthropic Association).
• My work on behalf of this organization is “public business” as defined in the Senate Administrative Rules and that is why my assistant deemed she could claim the expenses.
• However, after discussion with the auditors, my assistant was informed that there seems to be a practice in the Senate not to accept such claims when the event is a fundraiser.
• She therefore accepted to reimburse the amount of $1,609.00.

Item 2:

• The contract was done in accordance with all Senate rules and at all times respected the allocated budget.
• All of the work done by my contractor was related to my parliamentary functions.
• Community outreach and relations with media outlets are an integral part of a Senator’s functions and I had every right to use a contractor to help me.
• I decided to hire a contractor rather than a full time employee as policy advisor due to the cost effectiveness to tax payers.
• The contract number 121126-11-0016 specifically mentions community outreach in the services to be provided.