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Brazeau still faces separate charges of impaired care or control of a motor vehicle, and fraud and breach of trust related to residency expenses he claimed from the Senate.

He was appointed to the upper chamber on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2009 but was suspended in November 2013 over questions about expenses that he claimed for time spent in the National Capital Region, away from Maniwaki, Que., where he claimed to be primarily resident.

Brazeau’s suspension ended when Parliament was dissolved with the election call at the beginning of August, but he remains under an automatic leave of absence under Senate rules because of the criminal charges. His wages are being withheld to recoup the amount he is alleged to owe the Senate.

He has been charged with one count each of fraud and breach of trust related to Senate housing allowance claims totalling about $49,000.

The trial on those charges will begin in late March 2016 — should the Crown elect to proceed.

Upcoming court rulings on similar charges over residency expenses against Senator Mike Duffy, who is currently on trial, and retired Liberal senator Mac Harb, who will be tried next year, may have a bearing on charges against Brazeau.

If those charges are dropped, or if Brazeau is found not guilty, it would be difficult for the Senate to justify a renewed suspension.

Were Brazeau convicted on an assault charge and sentenced to two years or longer in prison, he would automatically lose his Senate seat.

But if he receives a discharge after pleading guilty, as expected, there will be no conviction registered against him and he will not carry a criminal record, strengthening his case for a return to the Senate.

He was dropped from the Conservative caucus when the assault and sex assault charges were laid in 2013.