Pamela Wallin will resume sitting in Senate when Parliament convenes - Action News
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Pamela Wallin will resume sitting in Senate when Parliament convenes

Pamela Wallin will resume sitting in the Senate when a new Parliament is convened, her lawyer confirmed Friday.

Senators Patrick Brazeau and Mike Duffy will be on leaves of absence until court cases resolved

The suspensions of senators Pamela Wallin, above, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau ended with the dissolution of the last Parliament. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Pamela Wallin will resume sitting in the Senate when a new Parliament is convened, her lawyer and the Senate confirmed on Friday.

Wallin,who is facingallegations of questionableexpense claims,will not face another suspension vote unless another senator decides to bring forward a motion,NancyDurning, a spokeswoman for the Senate, told CBC News.

Terrence O'Sullivan,Wallin'slawyer, told CBC News in anemailhis client does intend to return to the Senate when a new Parliament is convened. He said she would have no comment to make at this time.

The incoming Liberal majority government will open Parliamentwith a speech from the throne in December, asCBC reported earlier this week.

Wallin and fellow senators Mike Duffy and PatrickBrazeausaw their suspensions from the Senate endwith the dissolution of the last Parliament.

Brazeau and Duffy, who have criminal charges pending against them, will be on leaves of absence with payuntil their cases are resolved by the courts, said Durning.

"They cannot attend Senate and committee meetings except once at the second session to maintain their qualification with respect to attendance."

Brazeau still faces a criminal trial for fraud and breach of trust arising from his Senate expenses, scheduled to take place in March 2016.

The Senate is still clawing back Brazeau'ssalaryto repay nearly $50,000 in disallowed housing expense claims.

Duffy repaid his disputed Senate expense claims with a $90,000 cheque given to him by Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former chief of staff.

Hehas pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related toexpenses he claimed in 2013as a senator.

The fourth phase of Duffy'strial will resume on Nov. 18.

The RCMPconfirmed on Friday that their investigation into Wallin remains open.

"I can tell you that the matter is currently being investigated by the RCMP's National Division. The RCMP is not in a position to comment further on this specific matter at this time," said Cpl.Valrie Thibodeau, a media relations officer for the force, in an email.

CBC News has confirmed thatWallin'sfile is in the hands of Crown prosecutors.

None of the allegations against her have been tested in court.

In an interview with CBC Newschief correspondentPeterMansbridgein 2013,Wallinapologized for mistakes she may have made when filing travel claims.

She has since paid back a total of $154,191.

With a file from CBC's Rosemary Barton