Canada

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Conservative Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

A Quebec senator is making no apologies for collecting a housing allowance despite living little more than a drive across a bridge from Parliament.

Conservative Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu says the payments, reportedly more than $20,000, are legitimately within Senate rules.

Boisvenu says he has proven that his primary residence is in Sherbrooke, Que. and his secondary residence is in Gatineau, Que., just outside Ottawa.

According to a source, Boisvenu hasn't lived in their Sherbrooke condominium since he and his wife separated in February 2012.

Boisvenu told The Canadian Press that he's in the process of separating from his wife and that the issue should be a private matter.

Senators can claim up to $22,000 a year in living expenses, as long as their primary residence is at least 100 kilometres from Ottawa.

He says he's in compliance with the Senate guidelines.

"I provided all the documents that show that my primary residence is in Sherbrooke and my secondary residence is here (in Gatineau)," he said by phone Sunday.

"When the divorce is made official I'll have a decision to make."