Cracks in the Senate story - "Harper Government is cracking"
Channel: GroundHog News
Date: 2013-10-25

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Cracks in the Senate story
The government's plan to suspend three former Conservative senators without pay is stalled tonight

Senate debate over suspensions reveals Tory dissenters
Some fear booting Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau means any 'irritant' senator could be expelled
Motions to suspend Senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin are "at the very least premature," Conservative Senator Don Plett said Thursday, making it clear he will not support them.

Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau have all fired back at a bid by Conservative senators to have the three suspended without pay and benefits for inappropriately claiming Senate expenses.

    The Current: Senator Marjory LeBreton defends role
    Wallin in her own words: Read and listen to her Senate statement
    Mike Duffy vs. Stephen Harper on Senate expenses: a timeline​
    Chris Hall: The Mike Duffy-Stephen Harper credibility war

The government leader in the Senate, Claude Carignan, said there would be no Conservative Senate caucus on Friday, and that the Senate will resume sitting at 9 a.m. ET.  A vote on some motions is possible.

Plett, the former president of the Conservative Party, and a powerful voice in the party, said suspending the three and stripping them of income would set a precedent that would allow the Senate to suspend any senator who is "an irritant."

Plett mentioned a Toronto police officer who has been charged with murder and yet is still receiving his pay while he awaits trial. Comparing this case to the three senators, he said, "We would be finding these senators guilty before giving them a fair trial."

"Honourable senators, I ask you. Please do the right thing," Plett finished, to a standing ovation from Liberals and several Conservatives in the chamber.

Plett, talking to reporters in the Senate foyer after his speech, said, "Senator Duffy is a heart patient, Senator Wallin is post-cancer patient and Senator Brazeau has a young family and to take away their benefits, to take away their livelihood, I don't think is fair."

Plett's position echoes that of fellow Conservative Hugh Segal, although Segal's attempt to have the motions dismissed because of lack of due process and fairness was disallowed by the Senate speaker. 

Segal, his voice rising, accused the Senate of "committing professional capital punishment on our colleagues." Segal empathized he does believe the Senate has the power to discipline senators. However, he questioned whether that means it must take action that he considers "mean, arbitrary and cruel."