Senate ethics committee reviews Don Meredith's case, ponders possible sanctions

Members of the Senate's ethics committee met to reviewthe case of embattled Senator Don Meredith on Wednesday, beginningthe process of formally sanctioning the Toronto-area senator for his relationship with a teenage girl.

Committee members met behind closed doors at 3 p.m. to studythe Senate ethics officer's report, which was compiled after a two-year investigation into Meredith's sexual relationship with a young woman he first met at an Ottawa church when she was just 16.

Options under consideration rangefrom a reprimand to outright expulsion from the upper house, but no conclusion was reached.

Meredith, a 52-year-old Pentecostal pastor,was appointed as a Conservative senator by former prime minister Stephen Harper in 2010 before becoming a member of the Independent Senators Group (ISG). Hedenies many of the allegationslevelledagainst him by the woman in question who is identified byLyseRicard, the ethics officer, as "Ms. M" in her report detailing thecase but has saidhe had sexual intercourse with her on at least one occasion when she was over 18.

Ricard's reportfound that Meredith violated two sections of the code of ethics, namely that he did not uphold the highest standards of dignity inherent to his position, and that his actions reflect adversely on the institution of the Senate.Ottawa police investigated the matter but dropped the case without pressing criminal charges.

Meredith will not appear

Meredith did not appear at the committee Wednesday because the senators met in camerawith no invited guests.Under the Senate's own rules, Meredith must begiven the opportunity to appear before the body at some point to mount a defence of his behaviour.

He had retained Toronto lawyer SelwynPieters to represent him during his appearances before the committee,but Pieterssaid Monday he is no longer representing Meredith.Pietershad said that Ricard unfairly targeted his client as a "predator" because he is a black man.

Because Ricardfound Meredith breached his obligations under the ethics code, it is not a matter of if, but how he will be punished, according the rules. There are a number of remedial measures the committee can recommend the SenateimposeonMeredith for his transgressions, including:

• Reduction or removal of access to Senate resources, like budgets and staff.
• Removal of Senate assignments, duties or powers.
• Eliminationof the right to speak or vote.
• An invitation or order to apologize.
• A censure, admonition or reprimand.
• Suspension.

Elaine McCoy, the leader of the Independent Senators Group, has alreadyasked Meredith to step away from her caucus, and she has removed him from all of his committee assignments.

The ethics committee will deliver its recommendations to the Senate chamber, and all senators will then have a chance to vote on sanctions against Meredith.

Senators considering expulsion

There have been near universalcalls for Meredith's resignation sinceRicardreleased her report two weeks ago.

Peter Harder, theTrudeaugovernment's representative in the Senate, has said Meredith should resign, and if he does not leave voluntarily the chamber's leadership will consider its options.

The Senate has never expelled one of its own, but came close after Liberal Senator Andrew Thompson posted continually dismal attendance recordshe was present in the chamber only 28 times in a 14-year periodbut they ultimately decided on a suspension because of concerns about constitutional complications.

• Don Meredith's sexual relationship with teen violated ethics code: Senate watchdog
• Senators urge Don Meredith to resign after 'disgusting' relationship with teenage girl
• Senators determined to expel Don Meredith after his relationship with teenage girl

Similarly, the chamber suspended senators Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin for irregularities in their expenses, but those suspensions expired when the last election was called. All three have since returned to their seats.

A suspension is temporary, whereas an expulsion would remove Meredith from the chamber entirely, stripping him of his title and his right to sit in the chamber for good.

As CBC News first reported, some members of the Red Chamber are so determined to expel Merediththat they have tasked the Senate's law clerk with combing through the Constitution in search of a line they can use to expel him.

The clerkand other constitutional expertshavepointed to Section 18 of the Constitution, which stipulates that Canadian parliamentarians should have the same privileges as a British MP. Members of the British House of Commons have the power to expel one of their own, and have used it sparingly to eject wayward MPs.

Liberal SenatorSerge Joyal, vice-chair of the ethics committee and an acknowledged constitutional expert, declined to give his view on the constitutionality of trying to punt Meredith. But "it's part of the deliberations of the committee," he confirmed.

Don Meredith says 'racism has played a role' in his sex scandal

7 years ago

Duration 7:32

Embattled Senator Don Meredith begged forgiveness for his "moral failing" over his sexual relationship with a teenager but said Thursday he was not ready to resign.