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Senator Mac Harb is defending his decision to borrow $230,000 from a numbered company owned by a businessman and lawyer who has for years done business with the government.

The land record documents show Mr. Harb used mortgages against four properties in and outside Ottawa to get loans from lawyer Brian Karam’s business, 1202864 Ontario Ltd.

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“Sen. Harb’s loans with Mr. Karam’s corporation were completely transparent,” Mr. Harb’s lawyer, Paul Champ, wrote in a letter to media Thursday, adding that the mortgages were publicly registered and reported to the Senate in accordance with Senate rules.

Mr. Harb is disputing an order from the Senate that he repay $231,649 in disallowed housing allowance claims and other expenses dating back several years. Mr. Champ said Mr. Harb is using the loan to cover both his legal costs and the repayment. The senator’s lawyer also said it was “irresponsible and grossly unfair to suggest or impute criminality” on Mr. Harb for accepting the loans.