Senate leaders Leo Housakos, James Cowan repaying expenses, dropping arbitration

Two of the most powerful figures in the Senate have announced they are reimbursing the full amount of their contested expense claims, ahead of Tuesday's highly anticipatedrelease of the auditor general's report.

Senate Speaker Leo Housakossaid in a news release sent out Monday morning that he has decided to repay the full amount of his expenses in order to protect "the integrity of the procedures and processes we put in place resulting from the auditor general's report."

It wasannounced at the same time asOpposition Leader James Cowan's confirmation that he hasrepaid his expenses.

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CBC News has also learned the Senate has changed its meal policy in the midst of the ongoing fallout from the two-yearexpenses audit. Meals provided by the Senate will no longer be served during committee meetings.The Senate originally provided meals for senators during committee meetings, and also allowed them to collect per diems. Senators will still be able to collect their per diems.

Senate spokeswoman Nancy Durningconfirmed the meal policy change, noting however, that"light snacks may still be served when deemed appropriate."

This is in addition to a pending policy change preventing senators from flying business class at taxpayers' expensefor trips shorter than two hours. Both policies will come into effect after the Senate rises for the summer.

Last week, CBC News reported thatHousakos, Cowanand Conservative government leader ClaudeCarignanwere among those caught in thecrosshairsof Auditor General Michael Ferguson's audit of the Senate.

The revelation promptedquestions ofpossible conflict of interest, as the Senate leaders were also involved in creating the process in the upper chamber tohandle senators' disputed claims including the appointment of an independent arbiter.

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"I have taken this decision not because I don't believe in every Senator's right to arbitration but because I believe in it so strongly that I do not wish there to be any question surrounding the integrity of the process or the manner in which it was implemented," said Housakos, who represents Quebec. Hewasfound to owe about $6,000 related to a contract.

Skipping arbitration

Cowan's releasestated he has repaid his expense claims in full "but (continues) to respectfully disagree with the findings of the auditor general." Cowan, a senator from Halifax,confirmed last week that hehad been told to pay back a little more than $10,000for travel-related expenses in 2011.

"I stand by my position that all expenses charged by me to the Senate were, and will continue to be, entirely appropriate. I have taken this action solely to remove any lingering perceptions about the integrity of the arbitration process," Cowan said in the release.

Both have also decided they will skiparbitration of the contested claims.

Carignan,who has already reimbursed about $3,000, said the auditor's findings in his case related to expenses by one of his staff.

Housakos,Cowan and Carignanare among 30 former and sitting senatorsfound by Fergusonto have filed ineligible expenses. Nine of thesenators'expense files have beensent to the RCMP.

'We're all human'

CBC News has also learned that Senator DonPlettfrom Manitoba has repaid $2,975 out of $4,095 in ineligible travel expenses. He is contesting the other $1,120.

"There were two claims that had an administrative error," Plett said."We happened to flag both of these errors prior to [the] auditor and we immediately said 'these are mistakes that should not have been there.'"

Plett said in the periodunder review, he filed 103 travel expense forms, adding he was worried based on the sheer volume of claims that there could be some human error at play.

"We're all human, my staff is human, I'm human," he said, adding he never once willfully took any money that didn't belong to him.

"I stand by that today, but clearly, yes, this tells me that some of the people and I'm not wanting to be critical of individuals in the audit team but ...thereis a lack of knowledge about what is and what is not Senate business."

Saskatchewan Senator David Tkachuk, former chair of the Senate internal economy committee,confirmed that he has repaid $3,900 out of a total of$7,391 inineligible expenses. He is contesting the other $3,491.

Independent senators to receive 'talking points'

The detailed finding's ofFerguson forensic audit ofthe Senate's expense claims will be fully released on Tuesday.

In a bid to control further damage from the potentially damning report, Cowan sent out an email obtained by CBC Newstoindependent Senate Liberals saying it would be"not only unwise but premature" to take a position on any of the auditor general's recommendations.

"Much more study and consultation needs to take place on our part before any recommendations can be accepted or rejected," Cowan wrote. "In this regard, it is critical that we speak with one voice and with one message."

The senators were also told they would be receiving "talking points" during their caucus meeting at noon on Tuesday, where they will read and discuss the report.

• Take a look at The Canadian Press's interactive:The Senate Expenses Audit - By The Numbers