Senator Pamela Wallin says she meets residency requirements

Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin says her home is in the province, and she is complying with Senate residency requirements, but she was reluctant to provide more details.

Wallin did not answer CBC's written request Wednesday for information about where she lives, but she did speak briefly about the matter on Parliament Hill.

When CBC reporter James Cudmore asked Wallin to talk about the residency issue, she said, "No, I'm not going to get into that," and walked away.

Her fellow Conservative Senator Mike Duffy also a former television journalist has run afoul of residency requirements, with opposition MPsquestioning whether Duffy really lives in Cavendish, P.E.I.

The province's health minister said this week that Duffy had applied for a new health card not a renewal and CBC News obtained documents showing he isn't getting a much lower resident tax rate on his property in the province.

Cudmoreasked Wallin where she lives, and she said, "Saskatchewan."

Asked if she had a residence in Saskatchewan, Wallin said, "I sure do."

Asked if it was in Wadena, she said, "You bet it is." Then she continued walking.

In an email, Cudmore asked the senator, where do you live? Do you have a Saskatchewan driver's licence? Do you have a Saskatchewan health card? To which province do you pay the provincial portion of your income taxes? Where do you vote?

Wallin emailed the CBC the followingresponse on Thursday:

According to Senate expense reports, Wallin claimed more than $15,000 in Ottawa living expenses last year. Her travel records indicate Wallin spent more than $20,000 travelling to and from Saskatchewan last year.

Saskatchewan Senator David Tkachuk is heading up an internal audit to determine whether Canadian senators are really living where they say they're living. The audit is expected to bemade publicby the end of February.