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Embattled senator paid to stay home
By ALTHIA RAJ
He is barred from entering his workplace, placed on a forced leave of absence, yet he collects $130,400 a year from taxpayers.
Quebec Sen. Raymond Lavigne receives a salary even though his colleagues told him not to show up for work after the RCMP laid criminal charges against him two years ago for using "Senate resources for personal gain."
Charged with fraud over $5,000, breach of trust and obstruction of justice, he could face up to 14 years in prison. His trial is set for November.
"This guy is a disgrace," said Kevin Gaudet, the national director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation."(He) is a poster child of the need for elected senators and accountability in politics."
Concerns about Lavigne were first raised in 2004 when allegations emerged he was using his office staff to cut trees on his lakefront property in Wakefield, Que. Then it was revealed he was using his office budget to pay for personal travel.
In June 2006, a special Senate committee ordered him to pay back $23,666.49 for misusing his budget allocation. But the committee thought his actions were so egregious they sent the evidence they collected to the RCMP.
His party leader, then-interim Liberal leader Bill Graham, kicked him out of the caucus.
After the RCMP charged him in August 2007, senators decided to ban Lavigne from the Senate and its committees. But he is allowed to collect a salary according to the rules of the Senate.
It wouldn't be fair to deny him his paycheque since he has not been convicted of any crimes, said Liberal Sen. Joan Fraser.
"In this country you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise," she said.
The 63-year-old Lavigne shows up on picture day, according to the Government's Leader in the Senate Marjory LeBreton.
DEEMED JUSTIFIED
In fact, his attendance record is spotless because he is allowed to justify his absence by saying he is off on "public business."
Meanwhile, Sen. Mobina Jaffer -- who has an otherwise good attendance record -- was docked $250 from her pay because she spent one month in Africa caring for her ailing mother.
"For that, they cannot give you a justification. My mother was dying, she fell and I went to look after her," said Jaffer. "I didn't fight it. I just accepted it."
Senators who miss more than 21 days without cause during a parliamentary session are docked $250 per day from their pay.
Conservative Sen. Consiglio Di Nino was surprised to hear Lavigne is collecting pay, but said the rules for disqualifying senators are rigid.
"We don't have the power of God," he said, adding he will look into the matter when Parliament resumes tomorrow.
Lavigne, whose motto is "visible, available, accessible" according to his website, did not return Sun Media's repeated calls for comment.