Chaos in the Senate as Auditor General report flags improper expenses

It's another massive blow to the reputation of the Red Chamber -- two sitting senators being investigated by the RCMP, along with seven retired senators, for "big problems" with ineligible expenses. Another 21 senators have been found to have less serious issues.

Even the three most powerful figures atthe top -- Senate Speaker Leo Housakos, government leader Claude Carignanand Opposition leader James Cowan --can't escape with clean hands. All three have also been flagged with inappropriate expenses.

The Senate is left reeling...and scrambling for damage control before the Auditor General's report is officially releasednext week. Will the Senaterecover, or is this the final death blow for an institution already battling claims of corruption, self-interest and scandal?

The Senate's Opposition leader, Liberal Senator James Cowan, sits down with us to talk accountability and next steps.

The Auditor General's report wasn't the only report making waves this week. The OPP's assessment of the RCMP's response to the Oct. 22 Parliament Hill shooting found that the RCMP missed a chance to stop gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau from entering Parliament.

Kristel Peterswas on Parliament Hill that fateful day. She was the young mother who first told an RCMP officer that there was an armed gunman on the Hill. Her story has never been told publicly until now -- Kristel Petersjoins The House for an exclusive interview.

And as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrapped up its emotional closing ceremonies this week, Canadians across the country looked to the federal government for a response to theTRC'srecommendations for repairing the relationships between Aboriginal Peoplesand non-Aboriginals.

"There was no response. That's the sad part. Silence,"National Chief PerryBellegardeof the Assembly of First Nations tellsThe House.

Bellegardecalls for greater governmentaction on two specific fronts -- Aboriginal education and child welfare -- and makes the case for how a strong, united Aboriginal vote could sway this fall's federalelection.

Finally, In House panelists Chris Hall, who broke the Senate story, and CBC parliamentary reporter Rosemary Barton dig into -- what else? -- the shocking revelations from the Auditor General's report.

We also have an extra segment this week.Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques might not be heading for Mars, but they're on track to go into space. That's after Canada confirmed this this week that it's extending its commitment to the International Space Station until 2024. We discuss the politics of space travel with the two astronauts and the Industry Minister, James Moore.