Advertisement

Senator Mike Duffy appears to flip flop on promise to pay back living allowance

Cue the outrage — good old Mike Duffy is back at it again.

Global News is reporting that Duffy has still not paid back thousands of dollars in Senate living allowances as he promised he would almost two months ago. In fact, he might never pay the money back.

A day after dodging questions from Global News, Duffy said he is waiting for an audit to come out before repaying the money.

“We haven’t heard from Deloitte. But I said I’m a man of my word, and if repayment is required, it’ll be repaid,” Duffy said outside the Senate Thursday.

“I didn’t say I made a mistake. I said I may have made a mistake,” he said.

“Words are important.”

Hold on a second.

You'll recall, a couple of months ago, Duffy faced a barrage of negative media attention with regard to allegations that he claimed a Senate living allowances that he wasn't legally entitled to.

The living allowance is for individuals who keep a 'second home' in Ottawa and a primary residence somewhere else. Media reports, however, suggested that the former CTV journalist had lived in his Ottawa home for many years and even voted in the Ottawa region.

Then, finally, on February 22nd, Duffy did the right thing and said he would voluntarily pay back the money.

[ Related: Senator Mike Duffy says that he’ll pay back his housing allowance ]

"So my wife and I discussed it, and we decided that in order to turn the page, to put all this behind us, we are going to voluntarily pay back my living expenses related to the house we have in Ottawa," he told CBC Radio on and subsequently blamed the Senate rules for his dilemma.

"We are going to pay it back, and until the rules are clear — and they're not clear now, the forms are not clear, and I hope the Senate will redo the forms to make them clear — I will not claim the housing allowance."

[ Related: Senator Mike Duffy claims $5,519 in living expenses ]

Yes, Mr. Duffy, words are important and those were your words: "we are going to pay it back." There was no "if's" about it.

NDP MP Charlie Angus suggests that maybe Duffy isn't a man of his word.

"For crying out loud. Is there no honour with this man, or with the senate," Angus told Global.

"He made a promise to Canadians. He said 'I will pay the money back.' Now he's welching on that promise? This is a farce."

But, to be fair, we thought we'd give Mr. Duffy an opportunity to speak for himself.

Yahoo! Canada News sent Duffy these three questions, by email:

- Are you claiming that you did not promise to pay back your living expenses?

- Did you say what you said on February 22 just to get the media and public off your back?

- Don't you believe you owe Canadians — who pay your $132,000/year salary — a clearer explanation?

We'll let you know if Mr. Duffy...ahem... responds.

Updated: 1:45 p.m. (EST):

Mike Duffy did respond — sort of.

Here's his email to Yahoo! Canada News:

The pmo is saying the following to those who ask:

"Senator Duffy clearly said to Global that he is a man of his word. They based last night's story on his response to "what if" questions later in the interview. The Senate is working to ensure that expenses are appropriate, that the rules are appropriate and that this is reported back to the public. We won't have anything to add until the committee reports."

(Photo courtesy of Canadian Press)

Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!