Pamela Wallin will resume sitting in Senate when Parliament convenes

Pamela Wallin will resume sitting in the Senate when a new Parliament is convened, her lawyer and the Senate confirmed on Friday.

Wallin, who is facing allegations of questionable expense claims, will not face another suspension vote unless another senator decides to bring forward a motion, Nancy Durning, a spokeswoman for the Senate, told CBC News.

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Terrence O'Sullivan, Wallin's lawyer, told CBC News in an email his client does intend to return to the Senate when a new Parliament is convened. He said she would have no comment to make at this time.

The incoming Liberal majority government will open Parliament with a speech from the throne in December, as CBC reported earlier this week.

Wallin and fellow senators Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau saw their suspensions from the Senate end with the dissolution of the last Parliament. 

Brazeau and Duffy, who have criminal charges pending against them, will be on leaves of absence with pay until their cases are resolved by the courts, said Durning.

"They cannot attend Senate and committee meetings except once at the second session to maintain their qualification with respect to attendance."

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Brazeau still faces a criminal trial for fraud and breach of trust arising from his Senate expenses, scheduled to take place in March 2016.

The Senate is still clawing back Brazeau's salary to repay nearly $50,000 in disallowed housing expense claims.

Duffy repaid his disputed Senate expense claims with a $90,000 cheque given to him by Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former chief of staff.

He has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses he claimed in 2013 as a senator.

The fourth phase of Duffy's trial will resume on Nov. 18.

The RCMP confirmed on Friday that their investigation into Wallin remains open.

"I can tell you that the matter is currently being investigated by the RCMP's National Division. The RCMP is not in a position to comment further on this specific matter at this time," said Cpl. Valérie Thibodeau, a media relations officer for the force, in an email. 

CBC News has confirmed that Wallin's file is in the hands of Crown prosecutors.

None of the allegations against her have been tested in court.

In an interview with CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge in 2013, Wallin apologized for mistakes she may have made when filing travel claims.

She has since paid back a total of $154,191.