Ex-PMO lawyer continues testimony at Duffy trial today

Under the Conservative leader, nation-building projects such as the railroad or national health care would never have been realized, Wynne said, while Mulcair’s promises are unrealistic or unaffordable. That person is Mr. Duffy, because Mr. Duffy took taxpayer’s money that I believe right from the outset he should not be taking, and I told him so, and I told him to repay it. He did not repay it, that’s why I had to take action against him.

Testimony in the trial of former Conservative Sen. Duffy has pleaded not guilty to all 31 charges. While Wright was not charged with giving Duffy the $90,000 to repay his expenses, the Crown alleges Duffy tried to extract the cash by setting the terms. Duffy’s expenses if he repaid the full amount before Deloitte reached any conclusions.

Harper has stonewalled on the matter, insisting it was only Wright and Duffy who were responsible, but has been dogged by persistent questions. One e-mail said that “we are good to go from the PM”.

Stephen Harper, left, and former PMO lawyer Benjamin are seen in happier times. This is possibly true since part of the role of Wright would be to ensure there would be no evidence of Harper’s involvement in such a devious plan. Duffy was re-considering a commitment he had made on February 22, 2013, to acknowledge he might have made mistakes when he designated his P.E.I. cottage as his primary residence when he became a senator in 2009, and claimed a housing allowance and other expenses in Ottawa after designating his home in the capital as his secondary residence.

“He’s a nothing. Harper has produced good government”. He doesn’t care to know. That’s when Wright told Perrin he would personally cover Duffy’s Senate expenses.

“And you trusted that when Mr. Wright represented things to you, he spoke for the prime minister?” asked Bayne. I don’t feel it was a lie.

“Having read some of the media, I understand there was an explanation given that was different from my understanding”.

Case in point: the angry Harper supporter who launched into a profane diatribe against reporters for their insistence on pressing the prime minister about the embattled senator. Conveniently, Harper was blissfully unaware according to Wright’s narrative as to what was going on. She seems to lay all the blame on Mike Duffy for the fraudulent dealings and none on the machinations of the PMO and the socalled Bible-approved actions of Nigel Wright.

Perrin added Novak was “was present throughout the call”, even though he didn’t speak. In an e-mail sent to Novak Wright wrote: “I will send my cheque on Monday”.

Perrin testified that Harper’s then-principal secretary and closest, longest-serving adviser, Ray Novak, came in the room and was told twice about Wright’s payment plan, first just before and then during a telephone conference call with Duffy’s lawyer.

Mr. Perrin and Ms. Payne arranged the last-ditch direct conversation between Mr. Wright and Ms. Payne as.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. Obviously, Harper should fire Novak since he does not bother to read important emails sent to him. A leader like that is just not ready to earn our trust.