Wallin's Lame Excuse

The ongoing saga associated with the questionable spending habits of certain senators continues to leave considerable doubt as to the personal integrity of these so-called ‘honourable’ public officials. Senator Pamela Wallin, in an interview with Peter Mansbridge of the CBC, said she was “very sorry” for the mistakes she made with her travel expenses. Her explanation being “I think anybody understands that when you are dealing with mounds of paper you’re going to make some mistakes”. Well Pamela, Canadians may buy that excuse for one or two isolated incidents but when the transgressions span a four-year period, the reference to “some mistakes” is meaningless.

Like Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau, Wallin appears to have had no qualms in exploiting a financial benefit that she did not merit. Her attempt at damage control would have carried more credibility if her admission of wrong-doing was accompanied by her resignation from the senate. The same goes for Duffy, Harb and Brazeau.