Daily Duffs

duffy-whalePlease note that since the Duffy trial has wrapped up, we will not be posting as regularly until the trial resumes. However, we will continue to post articles we feel are relevant. 

 

25 August 2015

Watch this unbelievable video courtesy of iPolitics of the late Jim Flaherty’s reaction in the House of Commons to Harper’s statement that Nigel Wright had not told Ray Novak of his $90,000 payment to Duffy. Wright was Harper’s Chief of Staff at the time and Ray Novak, Harper’s current Chief of Staff, was working for Wright. (“The eye-roll: A viral video pulls the late Jim Flaherty into the Duffy debate,” iPolitics, 25 August 2015)

Click on the image below to see the full article and video:

Jim Flaherty

 

 

 

 

 

Lest anyone doubt the authenticity of this astounding video, it can be seen on the parliamentary network, although the angle on Flaherty’s face is not quite so clear. Click here:

http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/XRender/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20131023/-1/13636?gefdesc&startposition=1744

Image credit: Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press

 

Andrew Coyne, in his article “If the Duffy affair was no big deal, why all the effort to hide it” (Canada.com, 24 August 2015), makes a powerful argument for corruption in the very marrow of the PMO:

 It is noteworthy that, almost without exception, no one at any point raises any objection to what is going on: not the public deception, not the attempts to tamper with the audit, not the whitewashing of the committee report.

Click on the image below to see the full article:

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: United States Library of Congress, Creative Commons

24 August 2015

Sandy Garossino, writing for the National Observer, talks to an expert in high-profile criminal investigations about how the RCMP should re-open its investigation into the Duffy affair and question the prime minister, multiple senators, and senior members of the PMO’s current and former staff in light of new evidence. (“Re-open criminal investigation and question Harper, says policing expert,” The National Observer, 23 August 2015).

Click on the image below to see the full article:

Harper Running from Duffy Trial

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Malcolm Mayes, Artizans

19 August 2015

The federal New Democrats are asking if the Mounties will reopen their investigation into Nigel Wright, Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff, and expand it to include Ray Novak, the most senior official in the prime minister’s office, as well as other senior Conservatives in Harper’s inner circle in light of new evidence filed in an Ottawa court room.   Read the full article at: “New Democrats ask RCMP is they’ll reopen Senate-expenses probe” (CBC.ca/news 18 August 2015).

18 August 2015

Andrew Coyne, writing for Postmedia, explains how the Duffy trial is unfurling a slew of damning information against the three main protagonists – Harper, Wright and Duffy. (“Andrew Coyne: Mike Duffy’s ‘blackmail’ defence redefines chutzpah,” Canada.com, 18 August 2015).

This affair has been framed as a series of deep and unbridgeable conflicts: Duffy against Wright, Wright against Harper, and so on. Yet the longer the trial goes on, the more they appear to have one thing in common: none of their stories is believable.

Click on the image below for the full story:

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Tristan Schmurr, Flickr

17 August 2015

Dan Leger, writing for the Chronicle Herald, explains how the Prime Minister’s Office was where the real scandal took place. Evidence shows that the prime minister’s office manipulated the supposedly independent Senate, interfered with a Deloitte audit, was perfectly prepared to lie about the $90,000 payment Wright gave to Duffy, coached Duffy and others on how to maintain consistency in that lie and was ready to cajole or bully anyone who got in the way. (“LEGER: PMO coverup is real Duffy scandal,” The Chronicle Herald, 17 August 2015).

Click on the image below to see the full article:

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Michael de Adder, The Hill Times

14 August 2015

Email evidence shows current Harper Chief of Staff, Ray Novak, knew about former chief of staff Nigel Wright’s plan for the $90,000 cheque. Yet Harper maintains he bears no responsibility in the matter. (“Stephen Harper defends chief of staff Ray Novak in Duffy scandal”, Joanna Smith, Toronto Star, 14 August 2015).

Click on the image below for the full article:

pamduff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Michael de Adder

 

Are there documents? Did Duffy repay? Did PMO whitewash the Senate report? The Tory story has changed. (“Mike Duffy then and now: 3 Conservative contradictions”, CBC News, 13 August 2015).

Click on the image below for the full article:

wrightbayne

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: CTV news

 

In this At Issue panel, Peter Mansbridge speaks with panelists: Andrew Coyne, Jennifer Ditchburn, Chantal Hébert and Bruce Anderson on day two of Nigel Wright’s testimony and the difference in tone in lieu of Donald Bayne’s line of questioning. (“At Issue: Day two of Nigel Wright’s testimony at the Mike Duffy trial“, CBC, 13 August 2015)

Click on the image below for the full segment:

harpduffy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Greg Perry

 

13 August 2015

Emails from Nigel Wright released in the Duffy trial yesterday provide a picture of a PMO consumed with the Duffy problem. (“Former Senate Clerk, staffer ‘threatened legal action’ regarding ‘whitewashed’ report on Duffy’s housing claims: emails”, Bea Vongdouangchanh, The Hill Times, 12 August 2015)

Click on the image below for the full article:

wrightharpduffy

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Hamilton Spectator

 

In this At Issue panel, Peter Mansbridge speaks with panelists: Andrew Coyne, Jennifer Ditchburn, Chantal Hébert and Bruce Anderson after Nigel Wright’s testimony (Day 1) and provide insight into where the story is leading as the facts unfold. (“At Issue: Nigel Wright’s Testimony”, CBC, 12 August 2015)

Click on the image below for the full segment:

wright duffy1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: montrealsimon

12 August 2015

In this At Issue panel, Peter Mansbridge speaks with panelists: Andrew Coyne, Chantal Hébert and Bruce Anderson on the importance of Nigel Wright’s testimony and the implications for Stephen Harper’s re-election campaign. (“At Issue: The night before Nigel Wright testifies“, CBC, 11 August 2015)

Click on the image below for the full segment:

connectingtheduffs

The new Connect-Four game!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Greg Perry

 

11 August 2015

Steven Chase, writing for The Globe and Mail, informs us that Harper plans on leaving town on Thursday after the resumption of Duffy’s trial on Wednesday. A Conservative spokesman has said that Harper will be campaigning across Canada during the trial and that the decision to start touring on Thursday was not offset by the trial resuming.  (“Harper heads north on campaign tour as Duffy trial resumes,” The Globe and Mail, 11 August 2015)

Click on the image below for the full article:

Stephen Harper planting Canadian flag in the North.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: Stephen Harper, Facebook

 

10 August 2015

CBC news provides us with a chronological order of events to better understand Mike Duffy’s part in the senate expense scandal and the allegations at play  (“Mike Duffy Trial: Chronology of the Senate Expense Scandal Saga“, CBC news, 10 April 2015).

Click on the image below for the full article:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, suspended Senator Mike Duffy, and former PMO Chief of Staff Nigel Wright.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image credit: The Canadian Press

 

In what can only be described as a potentially explosive development, Glen McGregor of PostMedia news writes that an unintended consequence of the exceedingly long election campaign of 78 days is that MPs’ parliamentary privilege will expire during the writ period. (“Long election could scuttle Harper’s ability to claim privilege in Duffy trial testimony,” PostMedia News, 5 August 2015).

Click on the image below for the full article:

 

 

 

 

Image credit: The Canadian Press

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