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Senate votes to force Brazeau, facing charges, to take leave of absence

Sen. Patrick Brazeau leaves the Senate after being suspended. Canadian Press photo

Sen. Patrick Brazeau leaves the Senate after being suspended.

Published on February 12, 2013
Published on February 12, 2013
The Canadian Press  RSS Feed
Topics :
Senate committee , OTTAWA , Gatineau

OTTAWA — Senators have voted to force Sen. Patrick Brazeau, who is facing criminal charges, to take a leave of absence from the upper chamber.

The Conservative motion passed today by senators calls on Brazeau to step aside temporarily in order “to protect the dignity and reputation of the Senate and the public trust and confidence in Parliament.”

Brazeau made a surprise appearance in the chamber just prior to the vote on the motion, which also gives a Senate committee the power to cut off his access to his expense account.

The 38-year-old Brazeau, who is currently free on bail, was charged with assault and sexual assault after he was arrested last week at his home in Gatineau, Que.

His leave of absence would remain in effect until the case is resolved.

If convicted, Brazeau could either be suspended or expelled by the Senate, or he could choose to resign.

Comments

  • Username
    Nan Clarke
    - February 13, 2013 at 14:23:50

    I think it is time for the Brazeau, Duffy, and other Senators to come clean. I just heard on the news that Pamela Wallin's (yes the journalist from Saskatchewan) expenses were also through the roof. I don't know what happens to people like this that they adopt a misguided senses of "Entitlement" to funds to increase their personal well-being at the expense of the public coffers. These persons should be made to pay back every cent of money they lied to obtain as expenses from the public. This should be done with accumulated interest on the funds and also, at the end, since they proved unworthy for their roles in the Senate, then they should be stripped of all their privileges granted to them as a means of being an appointee of the Senate of Canada. No Golden Handshake. But, if need be, a trip behind bars. If we can hold the Conrad Blacks and the Martha Stewarts accountable, then we can surely hold lying Senators accountable for the funds they take illegitimately and take that "right" away from them. I definitely do not want a lying SOB in the Senate of Canada. I actually don't want a Senate as the role of the Senate is crippled by the numerous partisan political appointments, but that is another topic for another day.

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  • Username
    Whatever happened
    - February 13, 2013 at 10:43:53

    to Innocent until proven guilty??? I see the lynch mob mentality is alive and well!

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  • Username
    Tobias
    - February 13, 2013 at 10:23:53

    Justin Trudeau has stated that he is not interested in reforming the Senate. No to elections. No hint of abolition. The NDP position is to abolish the Senate. Justin rings alarm bells every time a matter of substance comes up. He is in the pocket of the past. For sure.

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  • Username
    Paul jenkem
    - February 13, 2013 at 10:10:47

    I think it's time for treudu to have a second go at this fella

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  • Username
    Justin
    - February 13, 2013 at 00:32:01

    In light of these scandals how come the public is not be allwoed tosee all the exepenses of Senators. Islanders should be demanding to see the expenses of the Isnalnd Senators. I wonder how much ahd senator Callbeck or Downe been charging? The time has come for major Senate Reforn and either getting rid of it all together or going with an elected Senate.

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  • Username
    Taxpayer
    - February 12, 2013 at 21:50:12

    How does a 38 year old get a Senate appointment? He must have done a lot of great things in his teenage years.......

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  • Username
    James Macgoo Lakeside
    - February 12, 2013 at 20:56:11

    They are not elected so the best way to show your disatisfaction with their behavior or stances is to; refuse to attend events held on their behalf, politely decline to meet them when introduced, continue to voice disapproval with their practices, and do not contribute to or work for their political parties. Until a critical mass of people begin to behave using these types of tactics, nothing will change. We need to cut off the parties access to our resources - people and money - in order to have them understand we have endured enough.

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  • Username
    Gerry
    - February 12, 2013 at 20:42:54

    Regardless of the politicians' mode of travel into politics (elected or appointed) it''s only a matter of time before they show their true colors e.g. absolutely no requirement for a moral conscience; and total disregard for the taxpayers' expectation of integrity and compliance. Why? Because they can.

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  • Username
    Pius from BC
    - February 12, 2013 at 19:49:25

    Does the Honourable Senator still get his salary while suspended? He will probably resign so he can collect his pension. What a golden life our "appointed" senators have!

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  • Username
    Donnie
    - February 12, 2013 at 19:20:57

    Dianne is correct, the Senate is appointed. After decades of towing the party line instead of represented those who elected them, the politicians are ready to be given the "golden pillow" as their reward for their years of "service" to the Canadian people. Gail Shea is proving this right now!

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  • Username
    TARANTAU
    - February 12, 2013 at 19:15:49

    And yet ANOTHER example of the proverbial political pig at the trough.

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  • Username
    Adolphus
    - February 12, 2013 at 19:03:54

    Better to resign - that way he gets a great pension for life.

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  • Username
    Sick'n'Tired
    - February 12, 2013 at 19:01:41

    Don't worry Bill, he will do the "Right Thing", right for him! If he resigns, he will receive his full pension for life. Leaving in any other manner will mean no pension. His "integrity" will dictate that he resign!

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  • Username
    Donnie
    - February 12, 2013 at 18:35:41

    How discouraging! Out of the Senate! Poor Brazeau won't have peers like that again until he's incarcerated!

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    • Username
      intobed
      - February 12, 2013 at 19:08:46

      Brazeau is not out of the senate, just on leave of absence. He will still receive his full pay while not having to do anything. The only financial harm is that he will not receive some of his expenses, which are paid to cover costs of working and traveling.

  • Username
    johnny cash
    - February 12, 2013 at 18:30:21

    Gee a leave of absence,such harsh punishment. Guess they expect us to forget. I say fire the moron,he's a blemish to all Canadians and needs removal to at least appease us "commoners".

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  • Username
    fella had a silver platter of seven million
    - February 12, 2013 at 17:29:46

    Mssr. Brazeau was appointed to a seven million dollar arrangement, if he could only play by the rules. Pity he only got a half million before the whole trip went off the rails. funny eh?..............................maybe the senate needs to be shut down?

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  • Username
    Seriously
    - February 12, 2013 at 17:12:33

    "to protect the dignity and reputation of the Senate and the public trust and confidence in Parliament"??? These people need a reality check. What dignity, what public trust, what confidence?

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  • Bill Kays
    Bill Kays
    - February 12, 2013 at 17:06:16

    Whatever happened to doing the right thing? None of these people resign anymore. WHY? At even the slightest hint of inpropriety or wrong doing the politician should resign. WHEN did all this change? Was I asleep when our morality was compromised or am I just the last one to see it? IT IS TIME TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE.

    Submit a comment

    • Username
      Dianne
      - February 12, 2013 at 18:48:59

      The Senate is not elected Mr. Kays

    • Bill Kays
      Bill Kays
      - February 13, 2013 at 09:31:00

      Diane, it was our ELECTED officials that put those SENATORS in their places. AND BELIEVE ME, IT IS TIME TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. 40 years overdo.

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