Suspended senators would get salaries back

[oneh2obabe]

OTTAWA—The federal election will put signs on lawns, politicians on buses, and, depending on how things play out in court, suspended senators Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin back on the public payroll.

The three erstwhile members of the Conservative caucus were all suspended Nov. 5, 2013 — halting their salaries, reimbursements and use of office resources — for what a motion adopted by the Senate called “gross negligence in the management of (their) parliamentary resources” related to travel or living expenses inappropriately billed to taxpayers.

The Star has learned that, as things now stand, the three senators are set to begin receiving paycheques and other perks again no later than mid-September, which is the latest the campaign could begin if Prime Minister Stephen Harper sticks to the fixed election date of Oct. 19.

“Their salaries resume,” Nancy Durning from Senate communications said Thursday when asked to clarify what happens to the suspension order when Parliament dissolves and candidates hit the campaign trail.

“The suspension order under the rules of the Senate is for the duration of the session or until the order is rescinded. All orders of the Senate die with prorogation or dissolution,” Durning wrote in an email.

Durning also confirmed the clock would once again start ticking on the six years of service they need to acquire before they become eligible for a Senate pension.

Full article
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015 ... ction.html

[Boda]

OTTAWA—The federal election will put signs on lawns, politicians on buses, and, depending on how things play out in court, suspended senators Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin back on the public payroll.

The three erstwhile members of the Conservative caucus were all suspended Nov. 5, 2013 — halting their salaries, reimbursements and use of office resources — for what a motion adopted by the Senate called “gross negligence in the management of (their) parliamentary resources” related to travel or living expenses inappropriately billed to taxpayers.

The Star has learned that, as things now stand, the three senators are set to begin receiving paycheques and other perks again no later than mid-September, which is the latest the campaign could begin if Prime Minister Stephen Harper sticks to the fixed election date of Oct. 19.

“Their salaries resume,” Nancy Durning from Senate communications said Thursday when asked to clarify what happens to the suspension order when Parliament dissolves and candidates hit the campaign trail.

“The suspension order under the rules of the Senate is for the duration of the session or until the order is rescinded. All orders of the Senate die with prorogation or dissolution,” Durning wrote in an email.

Durning also confirmed the clock would once again start ticking on the six years of service they need to acquire before they become eligible for a Senate pension.

Full article
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015 ... ction.html

It's bad enough that under the rules of the Senate these alleged crooks would have their salaries reinstated before the charges against them are cleared, (clearly in my opinion that should be changed), but if they posses the lack of moral integrity it would take to accept that salary I hope that the courts would weigh that factor into the punitive restrictions (ha-ha) imposed after conviction.