Never told Duffy to claim Ottawa living expenses: Sen. David Tkachuk

OTTAWA – Conservative Sen. David Tkachuk is denying that he ever counselled Sen. Mike Duffy to claim all his expenses while living in Ottawa.

Duffy made the accusation against Tkachuk during the second day of his testimony at his own trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.

On his way into the Senate on Wednesday afternoon, Tkachuk said Duffy never approached him for such advice, because Tkachuk wasn’t in charge of the committee handling Senate expenses, which at the time was chaired by Liberal Sen. George Furey.

“I never talked to him about that,” Tkachuk said. “I wasn’t the chair of (the Senate’s Internal Economy committee) until 2010 … I don’t know what his discussions were with Furey or anyone else.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I never talked to him about that," Tkachuk said. "I wasn't the chair of (the Senate's Internal Economy committee) until 2010 … I don't know what his discussions were with Furey or anyone else."

Furey is now the deputy-chair of the committee.

While in the witness box today, Duffy said that during a Senate orientation session with Tkachuk, he was instructed to file per-diem expenses at all times in Ottawa, even while he was acting on partisan business.

READ MORE: Mike Duffy says his Senate appointment was meant to boost Stephen Harper

Duffy told the court he looked to the senior senator for advice, and said Tkachuk told him it was essential to claim everything that he was entitled to – including a living allowance for his Ottawa home, and partisan travel on behalf of the Conservatives.

Tkachuk denies that he ever said that.

“In that room, there were probably 20 senators, maybe 19, I think it was 19 at the time,” Tkachuk said. “They were all in there at the briefing. Take it for what you will. But they didn’t get the same message.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "In that room, there were probably 20 senators, maybe 19, I think it was 19 at the time," Tkachuk said. "They were all in there at the briefing. Take it for what you will. But they didn't get the same message."

Sen. Vern White, the former Ottawa police chief, said today that he never received similar counselling from Tkachuk or any other senator.

“I came here in 2012, I’ve never had anyone say to me anything like that,” White said.

“In fact, I’ve never had anyone tell me I should or should not claim any expenses. If there was a question that I or anyone had about expenses, it was typically ‘refer to the rulebook’ or ‘contact administration, they’ll help you out.’ I’ve never had anyone say anything like that, I have to say.”

Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges, mostly related to his living and travel expense claims. He is set to resume his testimony on Thursday morning in Ottawa.