It was on that day that Harper filled a whopping 18 Senate vacancies with partisan Conservative appointments. The list of “distinguished Canadians” appointed by Harper to the Upper Chamber that day included senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin.
Wallin and Duffy, both former broadcasters, have left the Conservative caucus over the last 24 hours over a Senate expense scandal that has embroiled the Prime Minister’s Office.
Brazeau, the former Conservative and now suspended senator, was removed from the Tory caucus in February after he was arrested and charged in relation to a domestic dispute at a Gatineau home. The Senate subsequently put him on forced leave until his court case ended.
All three senators and former Conservative caucus members are facing serious questions about improper Senate expense claims.
“While I look forward to welcoming elected Senators to the Upper Chamber in the future, these current vacancies must be filled in order for the Senate to transact legitimate government business,” Harper said in a statement that day.
Wallin, who is facing scrutiny over more than $300,000 in claimed travel expenses, announced Friday she is recusing herself from caucus until the audit process is complete.
Duffy, who left the Tory caucus on Thursday, has repaid more than $90,000 in improper housing expense claims — but only after Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright, cut Duffy a personal cheque to cover the Senate expenses.
Brazeau has been told by a Senate committee to repay more than $48,000 in improper housing and travel expense claims. Brazeau and former Liberal Mac Harb, who has also been ordered to repay expenses, have vowed to fight the Senate committee’s rulings.
Listed below are the biographies of the three senators — and now former Conservative caucus members — provided by the Prime Minister’s Office on the day of the appointments:
Prince Edward Island:
Michael Duffy is one of Canada’s most well known and respected news personalities and the current host of CTV’s daily program, Mike Duffy Live. Mr. Duffy joined CBC Radio News in 1974, switched to CBC TV’s “The National” in 1978, and joined CTV in 1988. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Mr. Duffy is involved in a number of charitable activities both in Ottawa and in his home province, including the UPEI Building fund, and the current Holland College Foundation Fundraising campaign. He has been a visiting fellow at Duke University; and has been twice nominated for the “Best in the Business” award by the Washington Journalism Review. Mr. Duffy has received many other awards and citations, and honourary degrees from the University of PEI; from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY; and from Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford.
Quebec:
Patrick Brazeau is a member of the Algonquin Nation and a citizen of the Indian reserve of Kitigan Zibi, near Maniwaki, Quebec. A champion of the rights of Aboriginals, in 2006, he was chosen as the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. He used this forum to promote the economic and social development of Aboriginals, especially those who live off-reserve. Mr. Brazeau has a black belt in karate and was a member of the Naval Reserve on HMCS Carleton, in Ottawa.
Saskatchewan:
Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M is an award winning journalist whose career stretches back more than three decades. Ms. Wallin is most recognized from her time at CTV where she co-hosted Canada AM and later served as CTV’s Ottawa Bureau chief. Ms. Wallin would subsequently form her own production company Pamela Wallin Productions Inc. Ms. Wallin has remained active in public life as Chancellor of the University of Guelph and Senior Advisor on Canada-US relations to the President of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas. In 2007, Prime Minister Harper appointed Ms. Wallin to the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan. Ms. Wallin has agreed to step down as Senator and submit her name as a candidate when Saskatchewan holds its first legislated Senate election.
Original Article
Source: canada.com
Author: Jason Fekete
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