Saturday, January 10, 2026

Canada’s Politics and Government News Source Since 1989

Mike Duffy appeal is a chance to reform the unelected Senate

The Senate has shown it will not voluntarily respect the Charter of Rights and the rule of law. However, the Supreme Court of Canada can do what the Senate refuses to do. It can use the Duffy case to define and limit both the scope and abuse of parliamentary privilege.

Senator Mike Duffy, 74, pictured in 2014 at his trial in Ottawa, will be retiring from the Senate in May when he turns 75. Sen. Duffy was charged in 2014 by the RCMP with 31 offences over allegedly improperly claiming primary residence outside of Ottawa for living expenses, but he was acquitted of all charges in 2016. He filed a civil lawsuit against the Senate and the RCMP in 2017, which the Ontario Superior Court dismissed in 2018. He filed an unsuccessful appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2019 and in October 2020, he filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Hill Times file photograph by Jake Wright

Opinion
BY DANIEL TSAI
December 14, 2020

Opinion | BY DANIEL TSAI | December 14, 2020

FOLLOW THE HILL TIMES:

Want to make sure your whole office has the full Hill Times experience?

We have team plans available for companies, organizations, classes, Parliament Hill offices and more. Fill out this form and find out if your team is eligible for a discount.

More Opinion

A 2026 financial sector wish list

OpinionBY JEREMY KRONICK, MARK ZELMER

It’s time to commission an independent expert task force to ask how the sector’s regulatory framework should evolve to foster more competition and innovation.

A 2026 financial sector wish list

OpinionBY JEREMY KRONICK, MARK ZELMER

It’s time to commission an independent expert task force to ask how the sector’s regulatory framework should evolve to foster more competition and innovation.

Mike Duffy appeal is a chance to reform the unelected Senate

The Senate has shown it will not voluntarily respect the Charter of Rights and the rule of law. However, the Supreme Court of Canada can do what the Senate refuses to do. It can use the Duffy case to define and limit both the scope and abuse of parliamentary privilege.

Trump’s case for a Greenland invasion is utter hogwash

Maduro, Trump, and the politics of timing

Off to a bad start: Treasury Board already wants to make access to information worse

Fragmentation at risk of disadvantaging Canadian organizations and AI

Keep pace with great: NATO’s race for survival began in Ukraine long ago

Genuis vs. York

Nearly 2,000 jobs and $1.5-billion to be cut across five departments by 2030, PBO analysis shows

‘Disgraceful and indefensible’: feds’ failure to release new Defence Industrial Strategy by deadline sparks backlash

Carney heading to China next week

We need to go beyond criminal law reform to end gender-based violence

A 2026 financial sector wish list

A 2026 financial sector wish list

News

Get free news updates

Opinion

Submit a guest opinion article

resources

Follow us

Advertise

subscribe

get help

Get free news updates

Submit a guest opinion article

Mike Duffy appeal is a chance to reform the unelected Senate

The Senate has shown it will not voluntarily respect the Charter of Rights and the rule of law. However, the Supreme Court of Canada can do what the Senate refuses to do. It can use the Duffy case to define and limit both the scope and abuse of parliamentary privilege.

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter