New Liberal senator David Arnot, of Saskatoon, claimed thousands of dollars in expenses — that included flights, meals and other costs — as Senate business expenses while Parliament was in recess and he had not yet even taken the oath of office..Alison Korn, spokeswoman for the Senate, said the expenses were legitimate..“He was eligible to claim expenses,” she said..“The senator came to Ottawa for Senate business and his expenses were approved because they were in compliance.”.Records — as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter —show Arnot, who was sworn in Monday, billed $5,868 for air travel, meals, cabs and “living expenses” while on official business last August and September..“This is a great honour and I am truly humbled,” Arnot told his hometown Saskatoon Star-Phoenix following the announcement of his appointment last July..“The prime minister was clear when he spoke to me that he expects me to make a significant contribution to the Senate.”.“Mr. Arnot was appointed a senator on July 29,” said Lynn Gordon, the senator’s director of parliamentary affairs..“He travelled to Ottawa in August and September for orientation meetings, to set up his office and conduct staffing interviews.”.Senator Bernadette Clement (Ont.) billed $2,000 in living expenses before taking office. A New Brunswick appointee, Jim Quinn, former CEO of the Saint John Port Authority, billed $3,879 in charges marked as “living expenses,” “training” and travel to attend a “business meeting” in Ottawa last July 24 when the Senate was out of session.
