Tussle in Avalon over expenses

Liberal and Conservative candidates for the eastern Newfoundland riding of Avalon are criticizing each other over the amounts they've billed Canadian taxpayers.

Last week, the area's current representative, Liberal Scott Andrews, accused his Conservative opponent Fabian Manning of living the high life in the federal Senate and racking up $1.1 million in expenses and pay over two years.

Andrews said Manning spent about $800,000 on travel and other expenses and was paid another $296,000 for his salary.

"People want a change in politics. They don't want to see politics done the old fashioned way," Andrews said.

Andrews said Conservative Leader Stephen Harper put Manning in the Senate after he lost to Andrews in the 2008 election so he could prepare for this spring's federal election.

"He's used the Senate of Canada as his platform for this election," said Andrews.

Andrews also said it's been more than 100 years since someone has been elected to represent a federal riding in Canada after resigning from the Senate.

Manning's people did not release a breakdown of his Senate expenses and they told CBC News that he's too busy campaigning to do an interview.

Instead, the Conservative Party took aim at Andrews in a news release, saying in his first five months as the member of Parliament for Avalon, Andrews billed taxpayers more than $250,000 worth of expenses.

Andrews responded that he has nothing to hide and he's posted a breakdown of his expenses on his website.

It shows that over 18 months as an MP, Andrews' expenses totaled about $750,000.