Canada’s much-maligned Senate has suffered another blow as it attempts to weather a crisis of rising proportions, most notably the trial of disgraced former senator Mike Duffy for allegedly filing fraudulent living and travel expense claims.
Senate Speaker Pierre Claude Nolin died Thursday evening, leaving the upper chamber without a leader.
His death comes as the trials of two other senators, Patrick Brazeau and Mac Harb, on similar charges are set to start this year. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police continue to investigate a fourth, Pamela Wallin.
Harb retired a few months into the scandal, and in November 2013, Duffy, Wallin, and Brazeau were suspended from the Senate without pay.
Duffy, Brazeau and Wallin were appointed by Conservative Party Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harb was named by Liberal Party Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
Mr. Nolin, who was 64, was appointed to the Senate in 1993 by Brian Mulroney. He had been battling a rare cancer since 2010.
He was a unanimous choice to become speaker last November and was seen by all parties as a man who could steer the Senate through the expenses scandal.
Canada’s auditor general is currently finishing up an unprecedented audit of all senators’ expenses. The report is expected in June.
It remains unclear what effect the trials will have on the federal election this fall.
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