Days ahead of the highly-anticipated trial of suspended Sen. Mike Duffy, the Conservative government is saying something needs to be done to address the accountability and transparency problems in the Senate.

Industry Minister James Moore told CTV's Question Period that while the government is waiting for the auditor general's report into all senators' expenses before making any decisions about the Red Chamber, it recognizes that something has to change.

"This has been a long-standing frustration -- of me, of you, I think of all Canadians -- that this has been an institution that I think for far too long has had its own way with taxpayer's money and has not been as transparent or accountable to Canadians as it should be," said Moore.

"Clearly there needs to be some changes … I think there needs to be greater accountability and transparency of the Canadian Senate."

Auditor general Michael Ferguson is expected to release his audit in June.

Duffy headed to court

Moore's comments come as Ottawa prepares for the start of Duffy's trial on Tuesday. Duffy faces 31 charges, including fraud, breach of trust and bribery, in relation to his living, travel and contracting expenses filed by the Tory-appointed senator.

A secret $90,000 cheque given to Duffy by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's then-Chief of Staff Nigel Wright to pay back the expenses is also sure to come up during the court proceedings in the coming weeks.

Speaking on a Question Period panel, former Harper adviser Keith Beardsley -- who spoke to Duffy recently -- said the former senator is ready for his trial.

"I think he's probably looking forward to this. This is his chance to vindicate, or at least get even, if nothing else. I mean, revenge is sometimes sweet," said Beardsley.

Duffy's lawyer Donald Bayne has maintained his client's innocence. Duffy is expected to drop more bombshells during the trial, which runs until May 12, and then again from June 1 to 19.

But former RCMP investigator Garry Clement said it's quite clear that the Mounties have done their homework with Duffy's case. While he expects Bayne to argue that the Senate rules were not well-defined, Clement said other charges may be harder to argue.