Senator Pana Merchant
Appendix B—Files recommended for review by the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration Senator Pana Merchant
Province: Saskatchewan
Appointment date: 12 December 2002
For the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013
| Total amount of items referred to the Internal Economy Committee (including applicable taxes) |
$5,500 |
| Amount repaid after 5 June 2013 and before 7 May 2015 | $511 |
Findings—travel
We found several instances of travel expenses claimed by the Senator that were not for parliamentary business or were not in accordance with the Senate’s rules, policies, and guidelines.
1. On four separate occasions, the Senator and her spouse extended their stays or stopped over in Montréal, Toronto, or Calgary. According to the expense claims, the purpose of those trips was varied parliamentary business. The Senate Administrative Rules state that every person who uses Senate resources is responsible to account for that use. We received no additional documentation for the expenses incurred during those extended stays or the events that took place during them. On the basis of the information available, we determined that those expenses had not been incurred for parliamentary business. The incremental cost, including airfare, accommodations, and per diems, was $3,169.
2. According to the Senate’s policies and guidelines, all expenses related to an international trip must be approved by the sponsoring Senate committee. We found that the Senator claimed expenses for part of an international trip that were not previously approved according to the Senate’s rules, policies, and guidelines. The ineligible amount was $511, which the Senator repaid.
3. For one trip by the Senator’s spouse, we found that the spouse travelled with the Senator to Ottawa. When the Senator returned home, the spouse went to Vancouver instead. The Senator stated that she was not required to provide further details for these types of claims because they were permitted under the guidelines. The Senate Administrative Rules state that every person who uses Senate resources is responsible to account for that use. We received no additional documentation for the incremental expenses incurred during this trip or the events that took place during that time. On the basis of the information available, we determined that these expenses had not been incurred for parliamentary business. The incremental cost for this portion of the trip was $1,820.
The Senator’s comments
Several difficulties exist with this report:
- All information provided on behalf of the Senator was correct and remains unquestioned by OAG.
- Two different protocols for senators’ expenses existed during the period reviewed but OAG dealt with expenses as though there were no changes in the Guidelines/Rules.
- Pursuant to “the Other Travel 12 Point Category” travel within Canada does not require a parliamentary purpose at both ends of travel. The appropriate parliamentary purpose of this travel was attending sittings of the Senate and travel to/from Ottawa. OAG is wrongfully inserting an additional stipulation requiring a Senate purpose in both Ottawa and the city of departure/return.
- Disputed expenses are:
The Senator spoke at an April 4/11 conference in Montreal organized by Israeli and Greek diplomats. Following arrangements made by Senator Housakos and former MP Eleni Bakopanos, she attended official functions and related events prior to the formal opening of the conference. As confirmed by documentation provided to OAG, her activities over three days included a radio interview with CFMB; attending a community event; and attending events with 2 ambassadors, 3 Consuls General, and a government minister from Greece.
The Senator travelled Ottawa/Toronto on April 14/11 for a reception/dinner with the Ambassador of Greece; the Metropolitan of the Greek Church; the Greek Education Minister; Consuls General, MPs, MPPs, and City Councillors.
The Senator travelled Toronto/Ottawa on April 15/11 for commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong at the War Memorial.
OAG suggests an incremental cost of return travel Ottawa/Calgary on August 30/11 as compared to return to Regina. There was no pattern of travel to Calgary or Toronto. OAG assessed incremental cost should be repaid notwithstanding meetings with the past president of Daughters of Penelope regarding Greek schools, immigration issues, 2012 Global Summit of Women, and advice on planning of banquet to honour Prime Minister Harper by AHEPA / Daughters of Penelope, as confirmed in letters from them.
May 1/12 related to a Toronto one-night stopover to promote the 2012 Global Women’s Summit—where the Senator led the Canadian delegation.
November 2/12 travel was approved by Senate Finance as governed by “the Other Travel 12 Point Category”. Even if OAG incorrectly suggests cost recovery, OAG makes a second mistake. Different from other disputed claims where recovery of incremental cost is sought, OAG now inconsistently suggests full recovery when the incremental cost is known and is 70% less.
OAG wrongly reports overpayment of $715.12 pursuant to the 2014 review by Mme. Proulx, Director of Senate Finance, ignoring that in 2015, Senate Finance reassessed the claim again and repaid $229.39 to the Senator.
Senate Finance with no interference by the Senator not only approved the above travel claims for 2011/12, but in 2014 reaffirmed its view that appropriate travel claims were made other than adjustments totalling $485.73.
The above report is not a difference of interpretation between Senate Finance and OAG but rather that OAG rendered its view based on Guidelines/Rules as it believes they should have been ignoring what the Guidelines/Rules actually stated.