Review of Senate attendance records 'not a high priority'

A review of the rules for Senate attendance appears to be on the backburner, six months after the Conservatives promised action on absenteeism.

The issue arose last June when TheCanadian Press revealedthat the youngest senator Conservative Patrick Brazeau had the worst attendance of the parliamentary session, missing both committee meetings and chamber sittings.

The committee on internal economy the same one that has now embarked on an audit of housing allowances was asked to take on the studyat the request of Conservative Senate Leader Marjory LeBreton.

A Senate spokeswoman said committee staff have been busy reviewing rules, policies, records and media reports.

'It's just not enough to say personal circumstances, there should be reasons given.' Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate

But she said they haven't reported back to the senators, and there is no set time frame for their report.

The chair of the committee also suggested the attendance-rule review is not a high priority.

"I have other things on my mind. ... That is the least of my issues," David Tkachuk said last week.

The Senate voted to place Brazeau on aleave of absenceTuesday, after he was charged last week with assault and sexual assault in Gatineau, Que.

Dallaire now most-frequently absent

Liberal Sen. Romeo Dallaire has since surpassed Brazeau for the highest absenteeism, having exhausted all 21 of his free leave days set aside "primarily" for family illnesses, funerals and religious holidays.

Public business outside the chamber and sick days do not eat into the 21 leave days allowed each parliamentary session. The Senate sat 132 days between June 2011 and December 2012.

Dallaire said he fully expects $250 will be deducted from his next pay because he spent his 22nd day away from the Senateat the United Nations, advising on how troops should cope with child soldiers they encounter in Mali.

The former army lieutenant general has spent the other days doing research with Halifax's Dalhousie University onchild soldiers, delivering speeches and travelling to Africa. He said he's careful about not declaring that Senate business.

"If I'm doing lieutenant general stuff which is conflict resolution, leadership, child soldiers, that's outside," said Dallaire. "I've been hedging my bets, and if I'm in doubt, the hell with it, I'll take a day. That's the way they taught us (at National Defence). I'm just using that day."

Brazeau and Liberal Serge Joyal are a close second to Dallaire, each having missed 19 days out of 21.

Other absentees include 2 Liberals, 3 Tories

Brazeau hadchalked up his absences last year to personal matters. Joyal said he has been attending conferences in France with the organization Institut des Ameriques and working on a book about Senate reform and the Constitution.

Other senators who have used up a significant proportion of their leave bank include Liberal Paul Massicotte (16 days) and Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointees Pamela Wallin, David Braley and Bert Brown (each 15 days).

'Sen. Wallin has been dealing with several family issues and therefore has broken no rules.' Wallin assistant Mark Fisher

Brown, who has had high attendance in the past, has been helping his wife Alice through a serious illness.

"He's a guy who works very hard, and I know being present in the chamber is important to him," said assistant John Watson. "It's been a traumatic session for him."

Wallin's office noted the days are "primarily" for family illnesses, funerals and religious holidays.

"Sen. Wallin has been dealing with several family issues and therefore has broken no rules. Absence up to a certain limit is permitted," said her assistant Mark Fisher.

"To suggest these absences amount to poor attendance, or to compare among senators as to who has been more or less absent within the permitted number of days, does not reflect the spirit of the policy which allows for personal leave to deal with family or other personal matters."

Last year, LeBreton made it clear that she wanted more scrutiny of the rationale given for absences. Senators are currently not required to specify why they are taking a leave day.

"It's just not enough to say personal circumstances, there should be reasons given," LeBreton told CBC radio last summer.

Massicotte's office said in an email that the senator's absences were for personal reasons, and had no further comment.

Braley's office did not respond to requests for comment.

Many senators did not used a single leave day 132 days (as of December) into the parliamentary session.

The accessibility of the Senate attendance register itself was supposed to bepart of the committee's study.

The register is located insidebig red bindersat a downtown Ottawa office building. If a member of the public wants to view it, they must travel to that location during business hours.