Senate fraud scandal rubs salt in EI reform wounds

Cloak of secrecy hides how many Harper appointees are cheating taxpayers.

by Ish Theilheimer

OTTAWA, February 27, 2013 (Straight Goods News)– News that Service Canada staff have received quotas for exposing EI fraud and making house-to-house investigations has fueled ouutrage over fraudulent expense and residency claims from some of Stephen Harper's most prominent Senate appointments.

In the House, Stephen Harper was on the defensive over reports that Senators Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin, both formerly nationally known journalists, have faked claims — and that Duffy, at least, is making repayments.

"Last week the Prime Minister told the House that he had personally reviewed the cases of Duffy and Wallin and that there was nothing wrong, which is all the more interesting given the fact that they have decided to reimburse hundreds of thousands of dollars they were not entitled to receive." NDP leader Tom Mulcair said in the House. "Instead of just talking about taxpayers' money, would the Prime Minister finally stand up and say that he is going to defend Canadian taxpayers and hold the unelected Senate to account?"

Harper backpedalled, saying the Senate is "reviewing all of their expenses to ensure not only that the expenses are appropriate but the rules in the future for governing such expenses are appropriate."

Liberal leader Bob Rae then stepped up the attack by comparing the Senate with EI reforms and the intrusive investigations of EI claimants Service Canada staff have been ordered to make. "The government may have Inspector Clouseau in charge in the Senate but it is clear that it has Inspecteur Javert in charge when it comes to Employment Insurance," he said.

"This two-headed monster and this double standard means that for the first time inspectors are going out to talk to Canadians with respect to Employment Insurance, whether or not they have any reason to believe that there has been any instance of fraud or of misleading information in the case of the person they are interviewing. This is the first time in Canadian history that this has been done."

Later, NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus told reporters the evidence raises big concerns. "If you're having to pay money back, it's because you weren't entitled to that money," he told reporters.  "I don't see there's any other explanation. She's not doing this for charity. So if you're claiming money from the taxpayer that you're not entitled to and you're being forced to pay it back, taxpayers have a right to know what were you trying to claim. Why did you get caught? And is this the first time she's been investigated? We don't know. This is a secretive organization."

The NDP's Charlie Angus speculates on secrets concealed by the unelected Canadian Senate.

Regarding potential criminal charges, Angus told Straight Goods News, "I think that we need to have a fair standard. When we look at the EI standards that are being set up — where it says if you misrepresent yourself on this claim this will be considered fraud, you will be prosecuted. That's how the government interprets it.

"There are no laws built anywhere in the world that have no consequences — except, apparently, when it comes to the Senate. So if Mr. Duffy had to pay that money back, we have to know why he was getting that. If he's not too bright and can't read a form, well, then I'd be surprised that he's in the Senate.  But if he was getting this money that he wasn't entitled to, there needs to be an investigation."

© Copyright 2013 Ish Theilheimer, All rights Reserved. Written For: StraightGoods.ca