Sen. Mike Duffy not on P.E.I. voters’ list

Conservative Senator Mike Duffy, who must prove that his main residence is in Prince Edward Island, was not on the voters’ list in that province in 2011, records show.

Duffy did cast a ballot in the Ontario provincial election that year, however.

Property tax records also show that Duffy and his wife are considered non-resident owners of their home in P.E.I. and must pay higher taxes as a result, according to a report in The Guardian, a Charlottetown-based newspaper.

 In order to be considered a resident of P.E.I., an individual must reside in the province for 183 consecutive days in a taxation year.

The Canadian Constitution requires all senators to reside in the province which they represent.

Duffy has been in the spotlight since it was revealed that he collects a taxpayer-subsidized housing allowance even though he has lived in the Ottawa area for decades.

Senators can charge up to $21,000 in housing and meal expenses annually, if their primary residence is located more than 100 kilometres away from Ottawa.

Duffy, a former broadcaster who worked for CTV and CBC, lists his home in Cavendish, P.E.I., as his primary residence. He has claimed $42,802 for living expenses in the National Capital Region since September 2010.

Duffy has denied misusing the housing allowance.

Amid other reports of senators’ questionable housing expense claims, the Senate asked all members of the Red Chamber to prove where they live. They were asked to submit copies of their drivers’ licences, health cards and tax returns by Jan. 31.

It was revealed this week that Duffy’s office called the P.E.I. health ministry before the deadline to ask if the senator’s health card application could be fast-tracked.

The request was denied because Duffy was applying for a brand-new health card, which is subject to a three-month waiting period.

Original Article
Source: ctvnews.ca
Author: CTVNews.ca Staff