TORONTO -- The Progressive Conservatives appear to be putting their own interests ahead of the people of Ontario after their finance critic billed taxpayers for a housing allowance after moving out of Toronto, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Friday.

Peter Shurman, who represents the Toronto-area riding of Thornhill, claimed the maximum allowance of $20,719 last year to offset the costs of living in the city after moving to a second residence in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

He was following the rules, which allow MPPs to claim the allowance if their primary residence is 50 kilometres away from the provincial legislature in downtown Toronto.

But the governing Liberals, who are the targets of Shurman's frequent tirades about wasting taxpayer dollars, say he exploited a loophole to subsidize his retirement home.

Opposition Leader Tim Hudak released a statement late Thursday saying he asked and Shurman agreed to no longer claim a housing allowance to help pay for his apartment in Toronto. But he didn't say whether he approved Shurman's claim. Hudak's staff said he wasn't available to comment further.

Shurman, 65, also wasn't available for comment both Thursday and Friday as he was observing the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, his staff said. However, a Toronto radio station where he used to work tweeted that he would be speaking on their show Friday afternoon.

If Hudak approved Shurman's claim, "Ontarians will have to decide if that's the kind of leadership that they want to see in the province in Ontario," Horwath said.

Conservative critic Monte McNaughton said neither housing allowances nor the decision by MPPs to move residences is approved by Hudak.

"Obviously our leader knew where Mr. Shurman was living, but let's be clear: he wanted to make sure the rules would be followed and of course they were being followed."

But Hudak has to decide whether he wants his party to continue to look like it's only concerned about its own interests, Horwath said. And it's "up to Mr. Shurman and his conscience" to decide whether he should pay back the money.

"Seems to me that Mr. Shurman is the only person that's decided to find a way to fund a retirement home on the taxpayers' dime," she said.

"I don't think Ontarians appreciate that. But ultimately they're the ones who will have to pass judgment."

Both the Conservatives and Liberals have asked Speaker Dave Levac to hold a special meeting to examine and change the rules around accommodation allowances.

"Taxpayers have expressed concern with the current system and know that it needs to be fixed immediately," Tory caucus chair Sylvia Jones wrote Friday in a letter.

Liberal house leader John Milloy agreed that the rules should be tightened, arguing only MPPs representing constituencies "a burdensome travel distance" from Queen's Park should be eligible for the expense.

Shurman owned a call centre company that he sold in 2003 for about $3 million and worked as a radio talk show host before he was elected in 2007. He earns $116,716 as an MPP, including taxable benefits.

His Niagara-on-the-Lake home is listed as his address in the party's financial documents filed with Elections Ontario as well as the address of his numbered holding company.

According to government records, Shurman owns a private 1979 F33A Beech Bonanza airplane through the numbered company.

Questions about the living allowance rules at Queen's Park come amid an expense scandal in Canada's Senate.

The RCMP is looking into the questionable expenses of senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau -- who are no longer members of the federal Tory caucus -- as well as former Liberal Mac Harb, who resigned amid the scandal.

It's alleged that Duffy, Brazeau and Harb improperly stated their primary residences to take claim tens of thousands of dollars a year in living allowances.

Senate rules require its members to have a primary residence in the province they represent. If it's more than 100 kilometres from Ottawa, they can claim a housing allowance of up to $22,000 a year.

The rules in the Ontario legislature are more lax, allowing MPPs to claim up to $20,719 if their primary residence -- which doesn't have to be in their riding -- is more than 50 kilometres from the legislature.

Cabinet ministers and opposition leaders can claim up to $21,719.