OTTAWA—Senators found cheating on their housing allowances should be forced to repay taxpayers, an opposition MP says.

Canada’s controversial, outgoing Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page, who hopes he won’t be replaced by a lapdog, says the three men he would like to see succeed him at the office are all interested in the job, even though it’s considered a public service career ender.

Less than a week after Finance Minister Jim Flaherty found himself on the wrong end of an ethics ruling from Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson, two more parliamentary secretaries have received similar raps on the wrist for the very same act deemed “improper” by the commissioner — namely, writing a letter to the CRTC on behalf of a hopeful applicant.

The first day he took office as Canada’s first budget watchdog Kevin Page knew he was effectively deep-sixing his 27-year-long career as a public servant.

Two other senior Conservative MPs used their titles as public office holders in letters to the CRTC – a practice that has landed Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in breach of his government’s conflict rules.