Charles Adler at a press conference on a baseball field in Winnipeg, on Sept. 15, 2010.JOHN WOODS/The Canadian Press

Jaws dropped in Ottawa when then-Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper named long-time press-gallery gadfly Mike Duffy to the Senate in 2008. In the twilight of his journalistic career, the colourful Mr. Duffy was known for vehiculating conservative talking points. He was a “big name” in small-town Canada and popular among Conservative MPs.

Known for his folksy language and racy metaphors, Mr. Duffy became a much-sought-after guest speaker at Tory fundraisers. In his maiden speech in the Senate, he accused one Atlantic Canada premier of having “climbed into bed” with another. “And honourable senators know what a grotesque scene that is.”

That sure got hearts pumping in Parliament’s upper chamber.

Ultimately, however, Mr. Harper would regret his choice. Mr. Duffy became wrapped up in an expenses scandal that brought the Senate, already held in low regard by Canadians, into even deeper disrepute and contributed to the defeat of Mr. Harper’s Conservatives in 2015.

In opposition, Justin Trudeau seized on the scandal to promise a non-partisan process for naming senators and kicked sitting Liberal senators out of his party’s caucus. He promised........

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