Harper foes focus on Novak evidence

OTTAWA-Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s political opponents are using the Mike Duffy trial to try to connect the prime minister to the controversial expense payout given to Duffy by Harper’s former chief of staff.

“There is one person on trial”.

Wright testified here that he was so offended by Duffy’s piggery (my word, not his) that he decided he’d repay his expenses, because he felt the Canadian taxpayer deserved it. He also attempted to make good the promises he’d made Duffy in convincing him that he was in the wrong, ethically if not legally.

After Mr. Harper initially defended Mr. Wright following the report, Mr. Wright resigned his post several days later.

Harper: Well, look, I would point out that there have been a large range of senators appointed by a large range of prime ministers who have had these kinds of difficulties and that is because of the nature of an institution that is unaccountable. They’ve been held accountable and as I said, that’s exactly the appropriate thing to do and that’s what I’ve done.

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. That’s when Wright told Perrin he would personally cover Duffy’s Senate expenses.

Any potential fallout might be mitigated by the likelihood many voters won’t start paying attention to the campaign until after Labour Day, she said. We have every right to expect better. How can we condone electing a prime minister whose loyalties to our country are questionable? “Ray Novak entered Mr. Wright’s office and took a seat…at the head of the table”.

The father of three identified two more with references to children’s characters – Dora the Explorer and “not Caillou” – – and two others as, again, Caitlyn Jenner, including one correctly.

Meredith is also facing a second Senate probe investigating allegations of workplace harassment.

Harper almost had the campaign trail all to himself – Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe was the only other one of the five main party leaders holding public events – but the Duffy questions just kept coming. – Harper says he’s not the only PM who’s had to deal with rogue senators. They are joined by retired members Sharon Carstairs, Marie-Paule Charette-Poulin, Rose-Marie Losier-Cool, Bill Rompkey, and Rod Zimmer, all Liberals, together with Mulroney appointees Gerry St. Germain and Don Oliver.

As scandals around the Senate and PMO continue to mount, Harper remained bullish in front of his cheering supporters, promising to raise the Adoption Expense Tax Credit to $20,000 from the current $15,000 if the Conservatives are re-elected.

“The potential for there to be a criminal issue here was never in our minds”, he said.