OTTAWA—The RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into the $90,172 the former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave Sen. Mike Duffy to allow him to reimburse taxpayers for ineligible living expenses.

“The RCMP continues its investigation to determine whether a criminal act has taken place. It must be meticulous and carefully consider, and examine all information,” Cpl. Lucy Shorey wrote in a statement emailed to media Thursday afternoon.

“The RCMP would only lay charges when there is sufficient evidence to do so. As such, we will not be commenting any further on this matter,” Shorey wrote.

The confirmation came after federal ethics commissioner Mary Dawson announced she is suspending her investigation into whether Nigel Wright, who resigned last month as chief of staff, violated the Conflict of Interest Act by giving Duffy such a generous personal cheque.

“The commissioner cannot continue the examination until any investigation or charge in respect of the same subject-matter has been finally disposed of,” said the statement released Thursday. It noted Dawson had learned earlier in the day that Wright is now being investigated by another body over whether he committed an offence under an act of Parliament.

Harper spokesman Andrew MacDougall said in an email Thursday the RCMP has not approached the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We would provide any possible assistance if asked,” MacDougall wrote.

Earlier Thursday, senators on the internal economy, budgets and administration committee learned they will not receive a report from forensic accounting firm Deloitte on the travel expenses of Sen. Pamela Wallin until the end of July.

Gary Timm, a partner at Deloitte, said the delay was due to a late decision to add three more months to the period of review — January to March 2009 — in order to have it include the time Wallin was appointed as a Conservative senator for Saskatchewan.

Timm said they are also waiting to receive some third-party information, which they expect to receive by the end of June.

Conservative Sen. David Tkachuk, the outgoing chair of the internal economy committee, introduced a motion in the Senate Thursday that, if passed, would allow the committee to deposit the Deloitte review and any reports on it with the clerk.

This would allow those documents to be made public at that time — likely to be in August — instead of waiting until Parliament resumes after the summer break.

“We’re not thrilled that it’s taking so long and I do have to say for Sen. Wallin, too, it has been a terribly long process and I don’t like that either,” Conservative Sen. Carolyn Stewart Olsen told reporters after the committee meeting.

Tkachuk said Wallin has been co-operating fully with the auditors.

Also in the meeting, Nicole Proulx, director of finances at the Senate, confirmed Sen. Mac Harb was asked in a letter dated June 3 to repay $231,649, including interest, in mileage and living expenses within 30 days.

That is higher than the original amount of $51,482 for Harb, because the committee had recommended going back further than the period covered by the audit.

The new amount goes back seven years, which is as long as the Senate administration keeps those records, and Proulx noted those additional expenses were calculated without being reviewed.

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Sen. Patrick Brazeau was sent a letter dated May 28 giving him 30 days to pay back $48,745, including interest, in living expenses and mileage, she said.

Both Brazeau and Harb have said they will challenge the findings.

Tkachuk and Stewart Olsen both said the internal economy committee would consider its options if either Brazeau or Harb do not reimburse the expenses before the deadline, which Stewart Olsen said could involve garnishing their wages.

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