Pierre Claude Nolin says 'big stories behind us' on Senate expenses

Newly chosen Senate speakerConservative Pierre Claude Nolin says the "processes are good" and he doesn't think the auditor general's expenses audit willfind serious problems.

Meeting reporters in his new role on Thursday morning, Nolinsaid there's nothing the Senate can do about the fact suspended senators Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin are soon eligible for their parliamentary pensions, having served six years since their appointments.

Senators' rights can't be changed retroactively, he said.

In March, the Harper government included measures in its budget implementation billtoensurethe trio don't accrue pensionable service while under suspension for making allegedly fraudulent expense claims. It does not applyretroactively, but took effectwhen the changes passed.

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When asked if he was nervous about what anongoing audit might reveal about senators'use of expense accounts, he said "the big stories are behind us."

He speculated that Auditor General Michael Ferguson may disagree on senators' definitions of what constitutes a parliamentary function. He also said the audit might find examples of improperly charged lunches or Christmas cards mailed to the U.S. at extra expense.

"I don't like that," he said,"but we'll take it," pointing outthat a June 2012 report was "clean."

"What happened between 2012 and now?" he said.

Nolin said a lot of money is being spent by Ferguson in order to do a thorough review.

Harper 'white, pale' during Hill shooting

Nolin, who was in the Conservative caucus room on the day of the shooting on Parliament Hill, also described his experience for reporters.

"I was glad that those doors were quite thick," he said.

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"I saw my prime minister becoming white, pale," he added.

"We are not trained for that. Ive seen military training in the past, but when you go through it, you live through it, its not pleasant."

Nolin said the shooting was "alearning event for everybody" and said both the Senate and the House of Commons aremodifying security to better protect everyone who works on Parliament Hill.

Nolin on Hill shooting

10 years ago

Duration 1:14

The new Speaker in the Senate, Pierre Claude Nolin, describes his experience in the Conservative caucus room during the shooting on Parliament Hill.

Time to fill vacancies?

Nolin, 64, represents Quebec in the Senate and was appointed by former prime minister Brian Mulroney at the end of his tenure in 1993.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his appointment as Speaker last week, succeedingNoel Kinsella, whoretired.

On Thursday, Nolinsaid recent retirements were leaving a lot of vacancies in the Senate and affecting its ability to function.

"I don't think I'm getting a lot of calls from Canadians to name more senators right about now," Harper said, when asked about the vacanciesat an event in Markham, Ont.

"From the government's standpoint, we're able to continue to pass our legislation through the Senate," he said. "So from ourstandpoint, the Senate iscontinuing to fulfil its function."

Stephen Harper: Senate fulfilling its function

10 years ago

Duration 0:30

Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggests he isn't about to appoint new senators.