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Canadians have lost a lot of confidence in the Senate because of the growing expense scandal but a detailed audit to be released Tuesday could eventually restore trust in the institution, says the Speaker of the upper chamber.

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In an interview with the Citizen, Speaker Leo Housakos was blunt about the political damage the red chamber has sustained, but defended its role amid continuing calls from the NDP for its abolition.

“We have taken a hit. There has been criticism. A lot of it is legitimate. Mistakes have been made. We’re in the process of correcting them. We’ve gone to extremes to correct that process. As a result, it’s messy, it’s discomforting, it’s upsetting for some,” he said.

“I have the intestinal fortitude as Speaker to go through this. I have the commitment to integrity and transparency to go through this. And I know the vast majority of my colleagues – not everyone – support me because they think this is necessary.”