A Canadian senator at the centre of growing controversy over contested housing expenses, is now at the centre of tweets poking fun at the situation using the hashtag #DuffyPickuplines.
For months, Conservative Senator Mike Duffy has been the focus of questions about thousands of dollars of housing expenses he’s claimed, even though he makes his home in the Ottawa area, near Parliament.
Officially the Senator represents the Atlantic coast province of Prince Edward Island, and should have his primary residence there, therefore qualifying for a housing allowance. However, it appears that’s not the case.
After initial denials, and saying he had done nothing wrong, the Senator offered to pay his debt of some $90,000. But news reports this week, suggest he did not use his own money, but received a $90,000 personal cheque from Nigel Wright, the Chief of Staff for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
As journalists and opposition parties try to unravel what happened, the twitterverse was alive with joking comments:
“Do you come here often enough to satisfy permeant residency requirements?” #duffypickuplines
— Tabatha Southey (@TabathaSouthey) May 15, 2013
#duffypickuplines Damn baby! You didn’t make no mistakes filling out your form. Mmm #cdnpoli
— Canada Second (@canadasecond) May 15, 2013
I’m still looking for Mr. Right but you can be my Mr. Wright Now. #duffypickuplines
— Paul Willson (@pdjjw) May 16, 2013
Want to come back to my place and help me fill out some forms? #DuffyPickupLines
— Elaine MacDonald (@emdtoronto) May 16, 2013
More information:
More tweets – #DuffyPickuplines – here
CBC News – PM’s chief of staff paid off Mike Duffy’s Senate expenses – here
Winnipeg Free Press – Duffy bailout by Harper’s chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO – here
Montreal Gazette – Senate appointment set Duffy loose as high-profile Conservative fundraiser – here
UPDATE (May 17):
Toronto Star – Senator Mike Duffy resigns from Conservative caucus – here
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