Photo of Mike Duffy by Ayelie / Creative Commons

Senators faced individual motions in Senate vote

Jane Lytvynenko
CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief

OTTAWA (CUP) — Nearly two weeks after the initial vote was supposed to take place, senators Pamela Wallin, Patrick Brazeau and Mike Duffy have been suspended without pay until the 2015 federal election. In a historic vote, the overwhelming majority of the chamber voted to suspend the senators without pay, but with health benefits. Each was suspended by an individual motion.

The Conservative motion in the Senate was sparked by the now infamous $90,000 cheque Nigel Wright, then chief-of-staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, wrote to Duffy to cover his Senate spending expenses. All three senators were ordered to pay back the money after they allegedly misused taxpayer money by claiming expenses inappropriately.

When the vote was first supposed to take place on Oct. 23, Duffy alleged blackmail and bullying from the Prime Minister’s office and revealed another $13,560 cheque to cover his legal expenses was given to him. Duffy also produced several email exchanges showing some PMO staffers knew of the situation.

The three senators are suspended as of Nov. 5, meaning they cannot sit in the Senate, receive their salaries or bill any expenses to the Senate.