Embattled Senator Mike Duffy is keeping his options open for a return to the Senate by filing the ethics declaration all senators are required to provide each year.
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Duffy signed his public disclosure summary for Senate ethics officer Lyse Ricard on December 16, which will allow him to continue to sit in the Upper House this year.
Duffy`s trial on fraud, breach of trust and bribery is currently on hiatus until February 22, when closing arguments are scheduled, and he is free to return to the Senate whenever he chooses if and when he is either acquitted or discharged.
More importantly, perhaps, he has resumed drawing his $142,400 per annum salary since parliament was dissolved in August, effectively ending the suspension-without-pay imposed by his Senate colleagues.
So far, though. there’s been no sign of the Old Duff in the Red Chamber.
The Senate has met on twelve days since the election last fall, but there is no record in the debates of Duffy attending. Under Senate rules, he faces a $250 deduction from his sessional allowance for each day missed, exclusive of sick days or the 21 days of personal leave granted per session.
In his ethics report, Duffy cited his continued involvement in Mike Duffy Media Services, the company he used chiefly to arrange private speaking events of the kind he continued to do even after becoming a senator, as documented by the Ottawa Citizen.
He also listed pension income from his career as a broadcaster with CBC and CTV, and Canada Pension Plan benefits. He also has an RSP account with TD Waterhouse and a TFSA with the Royal Bank.
