Canada PoliticsSenator Pamela Wallin lives “lucrative life” outside the senate: report
On Wednesday, during Question Period, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair asked the prime minister this question:
"Was Pamela Wallin offered the same deal by the prime minister’s chief of staff that was offered to Mike Duffy?"
Mulcair was, of course referring the deal whereby Nigel Wright gifted Mike Duffy money so that he could pay back his improperly claimed living allowances.
[ Related: Senate scandal helping NDP leader Thomas Mulcair gets his groove back ]
Well, according to the Toronto Star, it looks like Wallin didn't need Wright's money:
Pamela Wallin has a lucrative life outside politics, where she has been entitled to roughly $1 million in fees and stock options for her role on corporate boards since being appointed to the Senate.
The Star notes that Wallin has sat on such boards as Porter Airlines, Oil Sands Quest Inc. and CTV Globe Media since joining the Senate in 2009.
The article with details about her earnings can be found here.
[ Related: Senate expense scandal isn’t going away any time soon ]
Wallin's expenses are under audit, after it was reported that Wallin had claimed $321,037 in 'other travel' and $29,423 on flights from Ottawa to her home province of Saskatchewan since September 2010. There is a belief that some of those expenses were related to her non-senate work — including the boards she sits on.
Wallin — who was forced out of the Tory caucus last month — refuses to give details to the media or public but is cooperating with auditors.
CBC notes that the audit report might not be complete by the end of June as expected.
The Toronto Star is reporting that the Senate committee investigating Wallin has invited both the external senator and auditor to meet with them next week.
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)
Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!
