Don Meredith, Tory senator, faces questions over expense claims

A Conservative senator from Ontario is facing questions about his expense claims after attending a national prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C., last month despite being told by his own party's Senate leadership not to go.

Don Meredith, who is also a Toronto pastor, was among thousands of politicians and others who attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

Meredith flew to Washington using travel points he earned on his Senate flights to and from his Toronto home, andsubmitted close to $1,300 inexpenses for hotel and other expenses.

But in an email obtained by CBC News, the Conservative Senate whip's office initially told Meredith not to go, writing you were not approved to be absent that week andthe decision remains unchanged."

• Tory senators expense business-class flights with spouses
• Senate expense controls have 'significant deficiency,' audit finds

The Senate administration would neither confirm nor denythat every one of Meredith's expenses going back to his appointment in 2010 isnow under review. He has been removed from the Senate committee on human rights.

In a written statement, Meredith said that being a pastor was an important part of why I was asked to serve" and that sometimes he must find efficient ways to reconcile my spiritual vocation as part of my public duties."

The NDPattemptedto ask about Merediths trip today but because it wasnt considered House of Commons business, the question was ruled out of orderby the Speaker.

Has defended expenses

Last month, CBC News revealed that Meredith was one of the top spending Conservative senators.

But he defended his expenses when asked about why he regularly flew business class, oftenwith his wife, on the short flight from Toronto to Ottawa charging taxpayers more than $11,000 overone three-month period last fall.

"We travel according to the plan that is given to us," he said then. "It is up to us to be able to travel. Sometimes I do take the train up to Ottawa when it is necessary to do so. But I do travel from Toronto just like the rest of my colleagues travel, through Air Canada, and I am happy to do that and they are in line with our regular expenditures."

An audit released by accounting firm KPMG today found that there is a "significant deficiency" in the control of all senators expenses and said the administration should audit a sample of senators' offices every year.

If you have more on this story, or other investigative tips, please emailinvestigations@cbc.ca