Due process, the right to hear the other side, the charter — none of that applies to parliamentary proceedings. But lawyers' first instincts are to invoke these principles they're accustomed to in legal proceedings."
Walsh believes the Senate does not have the power to cut a senator's sessional allowance, or pay, which he says is protected by the Parliament of Canada Act.
Opinion:
The Senate has been part of the Canadian government since Canada’s formation in 1867. Recently, the Senate has come under fire; specifically 3 senators: Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau. This controversy has captured me from the very start as I wonder, why would these successful people do this? I see the Senate slowly deteriorating from an non-partisan body to a place. A place that the political party you support is crucial to how you’re treated. This article reveals how incredibly involved the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is in the Senate. This controversy has shown how opaque Canada’s government and politics are. Due to this issue flaming up so vividly, the Senate has attempted to start many reforms. Such as expelling these 3 Senators. However, this is uncharted territory, no Senator has ever been expelled due to “gross negligence.” There is no legal precedent. I believe that if the Senate is unable to control its unbiased nature then it has no right of existing. I have never stopped to wonder, until now... How could the Senate control partisan interference?
Mike Duffy's lawyer says $90K cheque was a deal with PMO
Leslie MacKinnon, CBC News Posted: Oct 21, 2013
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