OTTAWA – The fact that Senator Mike Duffy is taking a medical leave will not affect his potential suspension without pay from the Senate, the leader of the government in the Senate said Thursday.
Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan announced he will introduce three motions next Tuesday to suspend Duffy, along with former caucus colleagues Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin, until the end of the Parliamentary session, which could last two years.
The motions would also take away their benefits and Senate resources.
“It’s not a question of money, it’s a question of gross misconduct,” said Carignan.
He said Duffy’s medical problems will not affect the move to suspend him. “For me, (it) does not affect my proposition, my motion,” said Carignan.
“He will have the opportunity to speak again, to move amendments. He could explain his case Tuesday,” he said.
Duffy announced in a statement Thursday he will be taking a medical leave on doctor’s orders.
He said his doctor fears his heart disease has progressed, and suggests he avoid “further stress” on his system.
All three senators, along with retired Liberal senator Mac Harb, have been ordered to repay tens of thousands in living expenses back to the Senate, while Duffy, Brazeau and Harb are under RCMP investigation.
Carignan said the motion addresses the behaviour of three senators, and it doesn’t matter which party they belong to.
“It’s not a Liberal, a Conservative or an independent, it’s a senator that didn’t respect the dignity and the rules of the Senate.”
Watch: Do the suspensions go far enough to address concerns about the Senate’s accountability?
Brazeau is also facing unknown medical problems. He was supposed to appear in court earlier this month to face assault and sexual assault charges, but his date was pushed back until next February.
Brazeau had already been suspended from the Senate with pay last Parliamentary session. He has maintained he did nothing wrong in claiming housing expenses and has seen his wages clawed back to repay almost $49,000 the Senate said he owes.
Carignan said he doesn’t know if Brazeau has reimbursed the full amount, but he said the repayment could restart at the end of the suspension or there could be a civil action.
Liberal Senator leader James Cowan said he has “no sympathy” for the three senators, but the Senate has to make sure there is due process.
He added that what the Senate does internally should not impact a police investigation.
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