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Canada’s senators collectively spent about $1 million less in the most recent quarter than they did during the same period last year, according to monthly expense reports.

Between March and May of 2013, the Senate’s administration approved slightly more than $5.5 million in expense claims. During the same period this year – the most recent numbers available – the Senate’s finance officials processed slightly more than $4.5 million in claims.

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While the number overall has gone done since the same time last year, the figure has been rising again after a drop in spending following the release of spending audits in the spring and summer of 2013.

Over the last two quarters (the six months from December 2013, to May 2014) following the Senate’s decision to suspend Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau without pay over their disputed expenses — spending figures show a steady rise.

Why spending is up now isn’t clear: The Senate’s quarterly expense reports only outline the value of the expenses processed during any given three-month period, not the actual spending during that quarter. For instance, in the last quarter, Sen. Linda Frum filed a $14,700 charge for housing — a value that takes into account multiple periods when her housing claims are listed as nil.