Senator David Tkachuk

Appendix B—Files recommended for review by the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration Senator David Tkachuk

Province: Saskatchewan

Appointment date: 8 June 1993

For the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013

Total amount of items referred to the Internal Economy Committee
(including applicable taxes)
$7,391

Findings—travel

We found several instances of travel expenses claimed by the Senator that were not for parliamentary business.

1. On 8 November 2011, the Senator flew from Saskatoon to Ottawa to attend a private corporation’s board meeting and other non-Senate meetings in the afternoon and the following morning. He flew back to Saskatoon early in the afternoon of 9 November 2011. On the basis of the information available, we determined that the trip was for private business activities. The cost of the trip was $3,800.

2. In November 2011, after Senate business in Ottawa, the Senator flew to Vancouver to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of another Senator. His spouse flew in from Saskatoon on the same day to join him. They spent the night in Vancouver and returned to Saskatoon the next day. The incremental cost for the Senator’s travel was $858, and the cost for his spouse’s attendance was $1,076. These costs included airfare, per diems, car rental, accommodations, and taxis. We determined that these expenses were primarily for personal activities.

3. On seven occasions, the Senator extended his stay in Ottawa or stopped in Toronto while travelling to Ottawa or elsewhere. While parliamentary business took place in Ottawa on each of these trips, the extended stays or stopovers were for private business activities or personal interests. The incremental cost of these stopovers or extended stays, including accommodations, per diems, and taxis, was $1,657.

The Senator’s comments

ITEM 1

ITEM 2

ITEM 3

The OAG raised important issues on participation by Parliamentarians in events organized for other Parliamentarians and on how we arrange our travel. I understand that the issues in dispute will be submitted to the Internal Economy Committee. If they conclude that an error was made in interpreting the rules, I will reimburse any amount owed. I think all these issues merit careful review, however, so that Senators’ ability to do their jobs is appropriately balanced against their obligation to taxpayers.

Subsequent event

On 7 May 2015, the Senate received a payment in the amount of $1,900.22 to the Receiver General for Canada.

Appendix B—Files recommended for review by the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration

Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Senate of Canada—Senators’ Expenses