Senator Robert W. Peterson (retired)
Appendix B—Files recommended for review by the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration Senator Robert W. Peterson (retired)
Province: Saskatchewan
Appointment date: 24 March 2005
Retirement date: 19 October 2012
For the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013
| Total amount of items referred to the Internal Economy Committee (including applicable taxes) |
$11,493 |
Findings—travel
We found one instance of travel expenses claimed by the Senator that were not for parliamentary business.
1. On 17 December 2011, the Senator returned home to Regina after a Senate sitting. The Senator and his spouse then took a trip, beginning with a flight on 22 December from Regina to Ottawa, then to Toronto on 24 December, and finally back to Regina on 27 December. The Senator stated that the purpose of the Ottawa stop was to attend to year-end business and to allow him and his spouse to take his staff out for a year-end celebration. The Senator also stated that he subsequently stopped in Toronto to see his family. The Senate Administrative Rules state that every person who uses Senate resources is responsible to account for that use. We received no additional documentation for the purpose of this trip. On the basis of the information available, we determined that these expenses had not been incurred for parliamentary business. The cost of the trip, including airfare, parking, taxis, and per diems, was $11,493.
The former Senator’s comments
On Friday Dec. 16th 2011, the Senate adjourned until Jan. 31st 2012. I returned to Ottawa on Thurs., Dec. 22nd in order to give direction to my staff and to put my papers and files in order, knowing that I was going to be away from my Parliament Hill office for more than a month.
Although my main purpose in coming to Ottawa on that trip was to prepare my office for the winter parliamentary recess, I also took the opportunity on Fri. Dec. 23rd to host an appreciation dinner and entertainment at the NAC [National Arts Centre] for my staff and their spouses to recognize their contributions to the efficient operation of my office throughout the year. In my experience, employee appreciation and employee recognition events are common practice. I also want to make clear that all costs were paid by me personally and not charged to my hospitality budget.
In response to my stopover in Toronto I would point out that at that time of year there are no direct flights to Regina from Ottawa. My assistant advised me there would be no additional charges for airline tickets by staying over a few days in Toronto. All expenses incurred in Toronto were paid by me personally.