Tories may amend suspension motions
OTTAWA — The Conservative Senate caucus will meet Monday morning to discuss possible amendments to three motions that would suspend embattled senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau without pay or benefits.
Government Leader in the Senate Claude Carignan, who introduced the original motions, told Radio-Canada’s French political program Les Coulisses du Pouvoir that his caucus could craft new motions Monday as long as there is consensus among party members.
“I think there would be huge support if the leader came out with some changes, depending on what those changes would be,” said Conservative Sen. Don Plett who plans to introduce his own amendments at the meeting Monday. “I think many senators would appreciate something other than what he’s been proposing so far.”
But the announcement riles Senate Opposition Leader James Cowan, who has publicly denounced the way the red chamber is trying its members.
“Instead of having this thing dealt with in the Senate, where Sen. Carignan has said it should be done ... now it’s going to be settled in the Conservative caucus in private,” Cowan said. “That doesn’t sound like a fair and open process to me.”
Last week, Cowan introduced amendments that would turn the senators’ cases over to a special committee. He said this would give the senators a fairer trial and address concerns of those worried about due process in current proceedings.