SENATE FORCES BRAZEAU TO TAKE LEAVE OF ABSENCE
‘It’s not a day of glory for anyone’
OTTAWA — Patrick Brazeau has been put on a leave of absence after the Senate enacted a rarely used power to suspend one of its own, saying the move was needed to protect the reputation of the upper chamber and the “public trust and confidence in Parliament.”
There was no debate on the motion Tuesday afternoon, but Brazeau surprised several senators when he showed up and took a seat in the back corner of the Senate chamber.
He was the only one to vote against the motion. Af- ter a brief hesitation, Senate Speaker Noel Kinsella announced, “Motion carried.”
Brazeau immediately walked out of the chamber and left Parliament Hill.
“It’s obvious that it’s not day of glory for anyone. Everyone regrets this,” Liberal Sen. Serge Joyal told reporters. “But under the circumstances, this is the only honourable path — as much for Sen. Brazeau, I believe, who must present his defence — as it is for the Senate itself which must, of course, take care of its responsibilities and take care of the interests of all Canadians.”
With the leave of absence, Brazeau retains his title and salary, but is severely limited in his ability to access Senate resources and speak in the chamber. Brazeau is still allowed to participate in debates, but only after first notifying the Senate. He must show up at least once a session to maintain his title, or else lose his job for failure to attend.
The Senate’s internal economy committee will oversee all of his office expenses and could curtail travel, communications and other office expenses, but won’t cut the salaries or jobs of the staff in Brazeau’s office. The leave won’t affect Brazeau’s own salary: he can continue to receive his $132,000 a year while on leave.
Conservative Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais, a former police officer, didn’t vote on the motion, but said Sen. Marjory LeBreton, the leader of the government in the Senate, would “do what has to be done.”
“But also, justice must be served, it must follow the process and then we’ll see,” he said about Brazeau’s future.
Brazeau, a 38-year old senator from Quebec, was released on $1,000 bail Friday after being charged with assault and sexual assault. He was arrested Thursday and spent that night in a Gatineau jail.