OTTAWA – The three senators at the heart of the Senate expenses scandal will continue to accrue eligibility for a generous parliamentary pension during their suspension from the upper chamber.

The two years Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin are expected to spend in political purgatory will count towards the six years of service need to become eligible to collect a pension, the Senate says.

Claude Carignan, government leader in the Senate, has said the original intent of the suspension motion was to see the senators stripped of their pay and Senate perks, “including (the) pension plan.”

Treasury Board President Tony Clement says he intends to change the regulations, if necessary, to ensure the three senators — suspended for allegedly claiming improper travel and housing expenses — don’t qualify.

Wallin in particular has threatened to take the government to court if she is denied pension benefits, a threat to which Clement says, “See you in court.”

The three are still entitled to health, dental and life insurance benefits — a provision added by Carignan last week to make the suspensions more palatable to some of his Conservative colleagues.