PM voices confidence in chief of staff amid scandal

The Conservative campaign was knocked off its main electoral message during Wright’s testimony and Harper has evaded specific questions about the actions of his staff, placing the blame exclusively on Wright and Duffy. 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.

The testimony contradicts assertions from Harper and the Conservative campaign about what Novak knew about the repayment scheme. 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.

Duffy faces 31 counts of fraud, bribery and breach of trust and the issue of deal speaks to the element of bribery.

In Victoria, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said, “Canadians no longer trust their prime minister to tell them the truth”.

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.

“In this case, I have held the two people accountable who are responsible – Mr. Duffy, who did not repay his expenses, and Mr. Wright, who allowed him not to repay his expenses”.

“I’ve been very clear”. Yet Novak was slated to be part of a conference call in which the check was discussed.

Perrin says shortly before the conference call, he sat at a table in Wright’s office with Wright and Novak.

In his remarks, Mr. Wright explained that he wanted to green-light the precedent of forcing a senator to repay expenses which he may not technically owe and the media lines the government would use.

“At this point, Mr. Wright interjected and said that, ‘Sen”.

Claude Denis, a political science professor at the University of Ottawa, said the Duffy trial feeds into already established narratives for both Harper’s fervent supporters and his opponents. 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.

NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus said Wright’s testimony – which wrapped up this week after six days on the stand – produced significant new evidence about Wright’s role as well as that of at least a dozen other senior staff in the PMO, including Novak. Under cross-examination, he said that if there was anything illegal or improper, he would have spoken up.

In court, Bayne pressed Perrin to agree that he had little context to work with as he pursued his legal duties on the Duffy file.