General

Suspended senator cost taxpayers $700,000

Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on office expenses and travel

Since being suspended in 2007, Senator Raymond Lavigne has managed to spend over $700,000 of taxpayer money, including $135,000 on travel and $180,000 on office expenses. Lavigne has also received $388,500 in salary over the past three years. The Liberal senator was suspended from the Upper Chamber after being charged with fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice. But according to a fellow senator, until Lavigne is proven guilty, he is entitled to the financial privileges that come with the job. Lavigne is due back in court on November 12.

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