Senate". Although the Senate has no explicit power to expel a member, a situation unprecedented in Canadian history, the Ethics Committee "accepted the legal opinion of the law clerk and parliamentary counsel to the Senate that the Constitution gives the upper house the same privileges enjoyed by the United Kingdom's House of Commons, which can permanently eject a member". Had Meredith not agreed to resign voluntarily, it was "virtually certain his former colleagues would have voted overwhelmingly" to expel him. In his resignation letter he stated that "the path of expulsion being considered by [his] colleagues will have major implications for the Senate of Canada" and that "this is a constitutional fight in which [he] will not engage." His resignation took effect on May 10, 2017. By resigning to avoid expulsion, Meredith retained his eligibility for a Parliamentary pension. The Senate Ethics Officer's report was published in June 2019 and concluded that Meredith's behaviour “constitute[d] both harassment and sexual harassment.” In June 2020, the Senate made a formal apology to Meredith's victims. In September 2020, following recommendations in a report by former Quebec Court of Appeal judge , the Senate internal economy committee authorized financial compensation for Meredith's victims. The total financial compensation to nine of Meredith's former employees totaled $498,000. Sexual assault charges On October 1, 2022, Meredith was charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of criminal harassment of an adult woman in 2013 and 2014. Meredith was released on a promise to appear in court and on the condition that he remain in Ottawa. Credentials Meredith claims an honorary degree from an association of Christian counsellors, the Canadian Christian Clinical Counsellors' Association, that has no standing as a degree-granting school and has been signing himself as "The Honourable Dr. Don Meredith" since receiving the honour. Meredith stopped calling himself a doctor after his credentials were questioned and he was called upon to substantiate his educational credentials. Meredith also claims to have earned a bachelor's and master's degree in religious studies from California State Christian University, an unaccredited, unregulated school which is not recognized by either the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and is not permitted by the state of California to grant graduate degrees. Awards In 2006, Meredith received an Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban Institute for being an "outspoken advocate against crime and for the advancement