Sources say a number of Conservative senators are unhappy with the way they were ordered to oust Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau.
“It’s not a very good atmosphere,” Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu conceded.
Others, who spoke privately, said they suspect Braley won’t be the last although they refused to name names.
The comments came after Braley, a successful businessman and football club owner, suddenly resigned from the Senate only three years after he was appointed to the Senate and almost three years before he was scheduled to retire.
Senator Hugh Segal wasn’t surprised to see him go.
“David is a very distinguished business and philanthropic leader in Hamilton. He performs public services in many, many different ways. So the notion that after having been here for a couple of years he wants to have more time to do those other things, makes very good sense.”
“We have been honored to have him with us and he is a distinguished Canadian and we wish him every success.”
Nor was Segal surprised that Braley didn’t deliver a departure speech in the chamber. Braley’s name was not mentioned in the Senate’s last sitting on Thursday.
“As a business guy, his view is the less ceremony the better. If you are going to do something, do it.”
Several other senators told iPolitics they heard rumours Braley was considering early retirement.
Conservative senator Pierre Claude Nolin said he tried to convince Braley to stay. Losing a relatively new voice, Nolin said, is “too bad.”
Braley’s departure was particularly quiet and swift.
By Tuesday, Braley’s photograph had been removed from a wall of senators profile pictures on display at the entrance to the Senate. His name and biography has already been removed from the Senate’s list of current senators. His name appears to have disappeared from the list sometime in the last two weeks.
iPolitics has yet to reach Braley’s office for comment.
However, Braley’s decision appears to have been brewing for some time.
In an interview in September, Braley said he was contemplating leaving the Senate because of the expense scandal.
“There are four people who are causing the problems for the other 100 senators,” he told the Hamilton News. “We are being tarred and feathered (by the public). The Senate has a real place (in Canadian government). Some say it is the place of sober second thought. Bottom line is (the Senate is there) to make the legislation better. It is good for the country.”
The Hamilton News reported Braley told a fundraising event in September that the senators at the heart of the scandal should resign.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed the Ontario senator May 20, 2010. The owner of both the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions is 72 year old.
The surprise announcement comes just a few days after long-time Tory senator Gerald Comeau retired from the Senate. Unlike Braley, Comeau gave the upper chamber about a week’s notice and had privately informed the party well before that.
Born in Montreal, Braley has been actively involved in Canada’s sporting community. He owns both the Toronto Argonauts and the B.C. Lions.
The Conservative senator served on the Legal and Constitutional Affairs and Rules, Procedures and the rights of Parliament committees.
A memorandum was sent to members of the Senate on Saturday notifying them of Braley’s resignation.
Original Article
Source: ipolitics.ca
Author: Annie Bergeron-Oliver
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