My question today is actually for the chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, Senator Marwah. The rules governing our office budget are laid out in the Senators’ Office Management Policy. Under those rules electioneering is not an acceptable use of Senate funds. In an interview with CBC our colleague Senator Dasko claimed that the expense for the push poll she recently commissioned was “all cleared.” Senator Marwah, my question to you is this: Did CIBA clear this expense, and was Senator Dasko granted an exemption under the Senate’s office management policy to use her office budget to pay for this poll? If so, why was that exemption granted?

Thank you.