Senator Don Meredith will receive a $25,000 annual payout for life even if he is expelled from the Senate.

That pension payout relates to his roughly six years of Senate service — a percentage calculation based on his annual $145,000 salary, according to people with knowledge of the Meredith situation and Senate rules. Pension payouts would begin in less than three years when he turns 55.

As early as next week, the Senate will vote on a recommendation by its ethics committee to expel the 52-year-old senator because he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl, promised her a committee job and tried to do business with her parents. If Meredith is expelled, his salary will stop immediately but there will be a continuance for two months of his office and office staff salaries while records are prepared for archival reasons.

There won’t be any additional severance payout to Meredith but unless the Treasury Board, which is the authority on pension issues, makes a contrary decision he will be paid a pension, according to people with knowledge of the situation and who spoke on background.

The Treasury Board did not immediately respond to requests from the Star. Meredith’s pension calculation due is 3 per cent for his first four years, then 2 per cent for the next two years and a partial payment for what would be a shortened seventh year if he is expelled.

Meredith, like all parliamentarians, can continue to access the federal civil service benefits package. He would have to pay the premiums, but given the number of government employees who participate in the program across the country the package is much better and cheaper than many receive working in the private sector.

Prime minister Stephen Harper appointed Meredith in 2010, saying his “skills and experience” would be invaluable as the government works to “pass legislation that is important to the well-being, safety and security of Canadians.” Harper referred to Meredith as a “well-regarded” figure in his community “who will bring a wealth of experience in business, philanthropy, sport and community initiatives.”

Meredith is a home landscaper by trade. Donscapes is his company, which is based in Richmond Hill just north of Toronto. He is also a pastor, who claims ministering to youth as his specialty. It was at a church event that he met the teen (she is called “Ms. M” in the Senate investigators’ report).

He is also listed on charity records as the person in charge of two faith-based charities, the GTA Faith Alliance Centre and the Pentecostal Praise Centre Ministries. Company records in Ontario and Quebec show Meredith is also involved as an officer and/or director in several companies, among them Montego Brands Inc., Melkisedek Media Inc., and Independent Energy Generation Corporation.

The Senate ethics committee on Tuesday recommended ousting Meredith from the Senate following its review of Senate ethics officer Lyse Ricard’s report. Ricard found that Meredith groped Ms. M in his office soon after they met, rubbing her knees, touching her buttocks and trying to get into her dress. “I’m a man,” the Senator told the then 16-year old Ms. M when she asked why he was doing this. That progressed through numerous phone calls and text messages to Meredith masturbating while he encouraged Ms. M via Skype or Viber to undress. Sometimes Meredith would be in his home office, church office or Senate office when he had encounters with Ms. M over Skype. There were sexual encounters, including intercourse on occasion, at her Ottawa apartment or his government-paid hotel room at the Chateau Laurier. These incidents happened before and after she turned 18.

Sen. Don Meredith says he ?deeply? regrets his sexual relationship with a teenager and, in this video published on March 16, asks for forgiveness. Meredith says he is weighing his options after a scathing ethics report was released the previous week.

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The ethics officer began her investigation after a June 2015 story by the Star revealed that Meredith had the sexual relationship with the teen.

Meredith’s participation in the Senate and in Senate committees, the Star found, was unremarkable. He often brought guests to the so-called Red Chamber, made a brief speech about the importance of youth and on several occasions raised concerns about whether other Senators embroiled in controversies were being unfairly targeted.

When Ricard provided a draft copy of her report for Meredith earlier this year, the senator suggested that a heavily redacted version be released to the public to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. Ricard declined to do so.