New efforts to end the politically toxic debate over proposed suspensions of three former Conservative senators have been cut short. Senate Speaker Noel Kinsella ruled out of order the Harper government’s attempt to limit debate on three separate motions to suspend Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau without pay. Kinsella explained that closure can only be imposed on debate over government business.
Claude Carignan, the government leader in the Senate, has served notice he’ll replace the three non-government motions with a single government motion to suspend the trio while allowing them to keep their medical benefits. “It’s logical during the suspension that they could continue to have benefits,” Carignan said. Carignan’s motion would require six hours of debate tomorrow. A vote could be called late tomorrow afternoon.
Prime Minister Harper will deliver the keynote speech at the Conservative national convention in Calgary tomorrow night.
