Senator under fire resigns

One of the principles in an expenses scandal in Canada’s Senate has resigned.

Mac Harb is retiring and dropping his legal action against the Senate. He has also repaid over $230,000 to the Senate because of inappropriate housing expense claims.

Mr. Harb, a former Liberal Party MP, was appointed to the upper chamber by former Liberal Party prime minister Jean Chretien in 2003.

Mr. Harb, 59, was one of four senators who came under investigation earlier this year for what were deemed false expenses claims.

The other three, Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau, were appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Ms. Wallin and Mr. Duffy have since left Conservative caucus but continue to sit as senators. Mr. Brazeau was suspended by the Senate while he responds to charges of assault and sexual assault.

All four remain under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. That investigation will continue, but Mr. Harb said Monday he was done fighting the Senate.

Senators are entitled to collect about $22,000 in living expenses if their primary home is more than 100 kilometres from Parliament Hill. However, a Senate committee alleged that Mr. Harb was inappropriately claiming those expenses. He has always denied the allegations.

Auditor-General Michael Ferguson is now pushing forward with a review of the office and travel expenses of each of Canada’s 100 senators. The timeline of his and how far back will go is unclear.

The fact that three Harper appointees are being investigated could have a profound effect on a future general election, which is not mandated until 2015. Mr. Harper came to power promising to clean up Ottawa and recent polls show he is losing support, even from his own base.

The RCMP is also conducting an investigation into a $90,000 payment that went from Nigel Wright, the former chief of staff to Mr. Harper, to Mr. Duffy to cover the senator’s questionable expense filings.