Nunavut Senator says more transparency needed in expense reports

Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson wants even more transparency in the Senate, after he says a financial report from the Red Chamber, which listed him as having the second-highest hospitality totals,was taken out of context.

As part of the Senate's effort to become more transparent, the new disclosure process breaks down hospitality expense claims. Each charge is listed individually, including details such as the purpose, location, and even the number of guests who were present for the cost in question.

• Senators charge taxpayers for art, gifts, dining out and booze

The breakdown of senators' expenses for July 1 to Sept. 30 tallied Patterson's hospitality expenses at $1,339.55, most of which were listed as being for "business meetings." One expensewas cited as "refreshments for guests" and one otheras a "community event."

Patterson says the problem is the "purpose" category doesn't have many options to detail exactly what senators are spending taxpayers' money on.

In one expense, Patterson claimed a House of Commons food services bill for $446 for a "business meeting" for 55 guests. He says it was for an event he held to screen the documentary Angry Inuk on Parliament Hill.

"That was an opportunity to showcase Inuit filmmaking and also raise awareness of the seal hunt and its importance to Inuit culture," Patterson said.

Other expense claims marked as for "business meetings" werefor food bought at Costco, Sobeys and Shoppers Drug Mart. Patterson says those werefor an event in Iqaluit, but he bought the food in Ottawa to avoidpaying more for the same itemsin Nunavut.

"There should be more detail [in the financial reporting] on exactly what kind of an event it was to show that it involved constituents. Because they really couldn't be described as business meetings. It's a bit misleading."

Patterson is one of a number of senators pushing for more transparency, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

"One thing we've been calling for, for a long time, is to post receipts," said Aaron Wudrick, the organization's federal director.

"A lot of the time there are details there that give it a lot of context. Some senators are just taking it upon themselves to release more information. We'd just like it standardized so it applies to everybody."