Senate scandal, budget to dominate winter sitting of Parliament

OTTAWA – They’re ba-a-a-ck.

MPs return to Parliament on Monday with the spectre of the Senate expenses scandal still hovering over the Harper government.

The government says it intends to remain focused on the economy, with next month’s budget the centrepiece of the winter sitting.

But New Democrats and Liberals believe the ongoing RCMP investigation and potential charges against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff and four senators will keep the government firmly mired in the Senate scandal, as it was for most of last year.

Moreover, the opposition parties contend government efforts to redirect attention to the economy — the Conservatives’ perceived strong suit — could backfire.

Sluggish growth and rising unemployment could put paid to the government’s mantra that Canada’s economy is performing better than any other G7 country.

The Opposition parties say they suspect the government is intending to pick a fight with public sector unions in a bid to shore up the Conservative base and deflect attention from the Senate quagmire.