Government leader in the Canadian Senate Marjory LeBreton declared Thursday that senator Mike Duffy is eligible for his Prince Edward Island seat in the senate.The government leader's declaration came amid questions raised by Senate committee investigating Mike Duffy's housing expenses

 "There is no doubt that senators that sit in the Senate, by way of the declaration of qualification, qualify to sit in the Senate," CBC quoted the government leader as saying.

Though the Senate settled the question of whether Mike Duffy qualifies for the seat, investigations over his housing expenses are still going on.

Senator Patrick Brazeau of Quebec, and liberal senator Mac-Harb were two others who were being investigated by the auditing committee.

Weeks after refusal to address about the controversy, Senator Mike Duffy last Friday announced that he would reimburse the housing allowances that he had claimed from the government.

"The Senate rules on housing allowances are not clear and the forms are confusing. I filled out the Senate forms in good faith and believed I was in compliance with the rules," said Mike Duffy in a statement, "Now it turns out I may have been mistaken".

However, neither the government nor the senator had declared how much Mike Duffy had to refund the housing allowances.

The government leader expressed that the housing scandal has not helped the Senate's reputation.

"It's very disappointing to me," CBC quoted Lebreton as saying.

"Anything that I can do to strengthen the rules, clarify and strengthen, there's no one in this building more than me that wants to tighten all this up," said she.

Amid the scandal, a survey conducted by Ipsos Reid for Post Media News and Global Television, showed, more than 78 percent of Canadian public demanded an end to the senate or a comprehensive reform.

To contact the editor, e-mail: