Senator Mike Duffy’s asking Ontario’s Court of Appeal to overturn a recent decision blocking him from suing the Senate over his suspension, without pay, over five years ago.

 

(Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A lower court decision last month ruled the Senate’s decision to suspend Duffy is protected by parliamentary privilege — a centuries-old right designed to protect legislators from having to answer to judges for doing their jobs.

The appeal his lawyers have now filed claims the ruling erred in law on several fronts and essentially equates parliamentary privilege with immunity.

The 72-year-old Duffy is seeking $7.8-million in damages in the wake of the investigation of his expense claims, which culminated in his acquittal in 2016 on all 31 criminal charges.