Senator Patrick Brazeau has been placed on leave of absence after being charged with summary offences for sexual assault and assault last week.
Here is the motion brought forward by the government this afternoon and passed by the upper chamber:
That, pursuant to rule 15-2(1), in order to protect the dignity and reputation of the Senate and public trust and confidence in Parliament, the Senate order a leave of absence for the Honourable Senator Brazeau to last until this order is rescinded pursuant to rule 5-5(i); and
That for the duration of this leave of absence the provisions of rule 15-1(3)(a) apply to the Senator, and the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration have authority, as it considers appropriate, to suspend the Senator’s right to the use of some or all of the Senate resources otherwise made available for the carrying out of his parliamentary functions, including funds, goods, services, premises, moving, transportation, travel and telecommunication expenses.
Here are the relevant sections of the Rules of the Senate as quoted above:
15-2. (1) The Senate may order a leave of absence for or the suspension of a Senator where, in its judgment, there is sufficient cause.
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15-1. (3) Subject to any terms and conditions set out in law or provided by the Senate, the deduction made from a Senator’s sessional allowance under subsection 57(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act is increased to $250 for each sitting day that the Senator does not attend, unless the absence was:
(a) for public or official business.
Read more on the legal and procedural rules concerning the Senate and criminal charges
Brazeau was taken into police custody last Thursday after an alleged incident of domestic violence in Gatineau, Que.
Brazeau remains an independent in the Senate after being expelled from the Conservative caucus. He is currently eligible to sit until his 75th birthday in November 2049.
The 38-year-old was appointed to the upper chamber in January 2009. He is a former head of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.
-Andrew Thomson
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