Canada PoliticsSuspended Senator Patrick Brazeau denied parliamentary press pass
Suspended Senator Patrick Brazeau's journalism career has hit a bit of a snag.
Earlier this month, after posting his resume on Twitter, Brazeau announced that he had landed a job with Frank Magazine as their newest Parliamentary reporter.
But on Wednesday morning, according to CBC News, he was denied a press pass "because he does not meet the requirement for press credentials on Parliament Hill."
[Press] Gallery president Daniel Thibeault said the gallery's constitution states that a member's principal occupation must be reporting on federal politics, and also specifies that gallery members can't represent the interests of political parties or governments.
"Senator Brazeau is still a senator with benefits and the executive feels [the request] is incompatible with those rules," said Thibeault, a reporter with Radio-Canada.
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Frank Magazine was obviously hoping Brazeau would be a boon to their satirical publication and that the senator could offer a unique perspective from the Senate chambers.
"Frank Magazine exists, to paraphrase a famous quote, to comfort the afflicted, and be a pain the arse to the comfortable," the publication's Andrew Douglas wrote in a blog post, last week.
"And who could possibly be a bigger pain in the arse to, I dunno, just throwing' out some names here, Senators LeBreton, Tkachuk and Stewart-Olsen than their former colleague Patrick Brazeau? Can't you just picture it?"
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Despite the set-back, it looks as if the magazine will continue to employ Brazeau.
"He’s gonna continue. I’m editing his first piece now,” Frank editor Andrew Douglas told the Chronicle Herald in an email exchange.
And, on Twitter, Brazeau hinted that he intends to appeal the press gallery's decision.
Hopefully, unlike the Senate of Canada, the PPG has an appeal process. #cdnpoli — SenPatrickBrazeau (@TheBrazman) December 11, 2013
Brazeau was suspended from the Senate last month, along with Senators Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy for allegedly claiming inappropriate expenses. He's also the subject of two RCMP investigations.
In addition to the expense scandal, Brazeau faces charges of assault and sexual assault from an incident earlier this year. The court proceedings for the latter, have been put off until February.
None of the charges against him have been proven in a court of law.
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)
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