PMO paid for Duffy's fraud

[The_Squid]

The PMO is not only paid for Duffy's false expense claims, they told him not to cooperate with the audit!

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mike-duffy-made-secret-deal-with-harper-s-chief-of-staff-during-audit-1.1282015

At one point, Duffy expected the PMO to cover all of the money he’d improperly claimed – more than $90,000.

In a Feb. 20 email, Duffy said Wright worked out a “scenario” where all of his claimed living expenses would be covered, including “cash for the repayment.”

Two days later, Duffy publicly vowed to reimburse the taxpayers, saying he "may have been mistaken" when he filled out Senate housing allowance forms...

------------------------------------

Meanwhile, Duffy refused to co-operate with the auditors. In one email he wrote: “I stayed silent on the orders of the PMO.”

After the Deloitte audit was released, the Harper government praised Duffy for showing "leadership" and voluntarily paying back the money.

Duffy showed "great leadership"? Voluntarily paid back? Bold faced lies. And the PMO telling Duffy not to cooperate with an internal audit is very troubling... The PMO is condoning fraud!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/05/15/pol-duffy-senate-deal.html

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff Nigel Wright wrote a personal cheque worth more than $90,000 to pay back Senator Mike Duffy's living expenses, Harper's office confirmed Wednesday.

This shows a serious lack of leadership and/or moral compass from Harper. Condoning and paying for the fraud of his senate appointees shows the culture of entitlement. The RCMP should investigate both the senate expenses, this payment and the lack of cooperation from Duffy, on the say so of the PMO, with the audit.

[scribblet]

The PMO's office did not pay for it, that is just not true.

Nigel Wright is a personal friend of Duffy so cut him a personal cheque to pay for it. I agree the optics aren't good, but he knew Duffy was having financial problems so gave or loaned him the money.

[Canuckistani]

Who's Nigel Wright that he's got 90k to just give somebody? What do they pay a chief of staff at the PMO anyway?

[PIK]

The NDP will be calling for the RCMP ,just like they do on everything. The constant petty attacks by the NDP are going to hurt them.

[Boges]

The NDP will be calling for the RCMP ,just like they do on everything. The constant petty attacks by the NDP are going to hurt them.

I think blowing 20 point leads in BC and stalling the passing of a budget in Ontario is doing a fine job of that already.

[Guest Derek L]

Who's Nigel Wright that he's got 90k to just give somebody? What do they pay a chief of staff at the PMO anyway?

A former Directer with Onex Corp...........Some people can afford to loan 90 bucks, 900 and 9000 to a friend......it's just a mater of zeros.

[Guest Derek L]

The PMO's office did not pay for it, that is just not true.

Nigel Wright is a personal friend of Duffy so cut him a personal cheque to pay for it. I agree the optics aren't good, but he knew Duffy was having financial problems so gave or loaned him the money.

Exactly........Another created scandal.........So Duffy paid back what he owed, what of the other two Senators?

Time for the Tories to revisit Manning's Triple-E Senate in my view.......

[The_Squid]

The PMO told Duffy not to cooperate with an internal audit!

And the Chief of Staff of Harper happens to pay $90k to Duffy who made fake claims.... and this is a "petty"? lol

Promoting fraud within government is not petty, nor is it a "created scandal". This one was "created" by Duffy and the PMO with their shady dealings.

Edited May 15, 2013 by The_Squid

[The_Squid]

The PMO promised Duffy that the government would "go easy" on him.... In other words, the government is covering for his fraud!

The CTV story says Wright and Duffy made a deal that involved the senator paying back the money he owed in exchange for some financial assistance and “a promise from the government to go easy on him.”

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/15/ctv-mike-duffy/

[Guest Derek L]

The PMO told Duffy not to cooperate with an internal audit!

And the Chief of Staff of Harper happens to pay $90k to Duffy who made fake claims.... and this is a "petty"? lol

Promoting fraud within government is not petty, nor is it a "created scandal". This one was "created" by Duffy and the PMO with their shady dealings.

What "shady dealings"? Both Parties went through their Legal counsels for this "deal", not in a back seat of a Coupe de Ville in a poorly lit alley with brown envelopes exchanging hands.....

[The_Squid]

So this is a "gift" from the PM's Chief of Staff to Senator Duffy to repay his false expense claims.

From the Senate Conflict of Interest Code:

• Senators may not accept, nor may a family member accept, any gift or other benefit that could

reasonably be considered to relate to their position, except as permitted under the Code. Gifts,

benefits and sponsored travel that are acceptable under the Code must be declared to the

Senate Ethics Officer if they exceed $500.00 in value (sections 17 and 18) and these must be

publicly declared pursuant to paragraph 31(1)(i).

http://sen.parl.gc.ca/seo-cse/PDF/KeyObligations-e.pdf

So he is now in a conflict of interest as well. If there was disclosure of this gift, it would have already been public information.

[The_Squid]

What "shady dealings"? Both Parties went through their Legal counsels for this "deal", not in a back seat of a Coupe de Ville in a poorly lit alley with brown envelopes exchanging hands.....

Going through lawyers is also a handy way to avoid Freedom of Information, since it is soliciter-client privilege. Nice try Derek. Getting lawyers involved does not make this above-board.

[Guest Derek L]

So this is a "gift" from the PM's Chief of Staff to Senator Duffy to repay his false expense claims.

From the Senate Conflict of Interest Code:

So he is now in a conflict of interest as well. If there was disclosure of this gift, it would have already been public information.

You guys should read their "Code"..........

Duffy doesn't have to declare the transaction from his friend Nigel Wright if there is no potential conflict of interest, in that Mr Wright wouldn't gain by Senator Duffy using his influence in the Senate to further a cause of Mr Wrights........

http://sen.parl.gc.ca/seo-cse/PDF/code1011-e.pdf

C. Gifts and Other Benefits

7. Issue

A senator is offered a gift that relates to her position in the Senate.

Considerations

Since the gift relates to the senator’s position, it is not acceptable under subsection 17(1)

of the Code, unless it falls under subsection 17(2) as a normal expression of courtesy or

protocol or is within the customary standards of hospitality. In the latter case, the gift is

acceptable but a public declaration is required under subsection 17(3) if the value of the

gift exceeds $500.

8. Issue

A senator asks whether he may accept free tickets to an NHL hockey game. They have

been offered to him by an organization of which he is a member of the Board of Directors.

Considerations

The senator may accept the tickets because they are provided by an organization in which

he sits as a member of its board. Section 17 of the Code does not apply in cases where a

gift is received in connection with an outside activity. However, care must be taken to

avoid any conflict of interest situation. For example, the senator should not, either at the

present time or in the foreseeable future, act in any way to further the organization’s

private interests when performing his parliamentary duties and functions.

[Boges]

So this is a "gift" from the PM's Chief of Staff to Senator Duffy to repay his false expense claims.

From the Senate Conflict of Interest Code:

So he is now in a conflict of interest as well. If there was disclosure of this gift, it would have already been public information.

I'd imagine that code was probably written to deal with Lobbyists. This guy wasn't lobbying Duffy for anything.

[Guest Derek L]

Going through lawyers is also a handy way to avoid Freedom of Information, since it is soliciter-client privilege. Nice try Derek. Getting lawyers involved does not make this above-board.

How to you think CTV got the shared emails?

[The_Squid]

I'd imagine that code was probably written to deal with Lobbyists. This guy wasn't lobbying Duffy for anything.

The code is clear. This is a gift that relates to Duffy's position as a Senator.... it is to pay back money he owes because of false expense claims. To claim this gift doesn't relate to his position is simply idiotic.

Plus there is the PMO telling him they would go easy on him....

Plus they told him NOT to cooperate with an external forensic audit....

What do the CPC supporters think about those last two items?

[The_Squid]

How to you think CTV got the shared emails?

Probably from someone in the PMO who actually has a conscience? But I don't know...

[Guest Derek L]

The code is clear. This is a gift that relates to Duffy's position as a Senator.... it is to pay back money he owes because of false expense claims. To claim this gift doesn't relate to his position is simply idiotic.

Plus there is the PMO telling him they would go easy on him....

Plus they told him NOT to cooperate with an external forensic audit....

What do the CPC supporters think about those last two items?

The Code is clear........How would Mr Wright gain influence over Senator Duffy by loaning him some cash? Is Duffy going to suddenly start siding with the Federal Conservative party?........Oh wait....

[Guest Derek L]

Probably from someone in the PMO who actually has a conscience? But I don't know...

What does the term "controlled burn" mean to you?

[The_Squid]

The Code is clear........How would Mr Wright gain influence over Senator Duffy by loaning him some cash? Is Duffy going to suddenly start siding with the Federal Conservative party?........Oh wait....

The influence could be keeping him from cooperating with the audit... "Here is $90k.... btw, don't talk to the auditor".

What does the term "controlled burn" mean to you?

Coming from you, it means nothing. If you have a point to make, just say it. This has hit the PMO flush in the face. ouch.

Edited May 15, 2013 by The_Squid

[Guest Derek L]

The influence could be keeping him from cooperating with the audit... "Here is $90k.... btw, don't talk to the auditor".

Have you ever dealt with a Lawyer Squid? Even an Ambulance chaser in BC will tell a client not to deal directly with ICBC for instance……..

Following your lawyers advice does not make a conflict of interest.

Coming from you, it means nothing. If you have a point to make, just say it. This has hit the PMO flush in the face. ouch.

The point.........Duffy's a boob and the Prime Minister can't give a Senator the boot........Duffy's paid back what he owed, and the other two Senators haven't (yet)...........The issue will be dead in a couple of weeks.

[The_Squid]

Have you ever dealt with a Lawyer Squid? Even an Ambulance chaser in BC will tell a client not to deal directly with ICBC for instance……..

Following your lawyers advice does not make a conflict of interest.

In Duffy's email he stated the PMO told him not to cooperate with the forensic audit.

"Duffy refused to co-operate with the auditors. In one email he wrote: “I stayed silent on the orders of the PMO.”

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mike-duffy-made-secret-deal-with-harper-s-chief-of-staff-during-audit-1.1282015#ixzz2TO0V5qf0

[Guest Derek L]

In Duffy's email he stated the PMO told him not to cooperate with the forensic audit.

"Duffy refused to co-operate with the auditors. In one email he wrote: “I stayed silent on the orders of the PMO.”

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/mike-duffy-made-secret-deal-with-harper-s-chief-of-staff-during-audit-1.1282015#ixzz2TO0V5qf0

Sure......So? Read section 13 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.....

[scribblet]

Exactly........Another created scandal.........So Duffy paid back what he owed, what of the other two Senators?

Time for the Tories to revisit Manning's Triple-E Senate in my view.......

They should push for the legislation of course, but are still waiting for a answers to the legal questions from the courts before going ahead with it.

I don't think there's anything stopping a friend from helping out another friend financially, there's nothing wrong with that, but it's amazing how it can be turned into something else. Nigel Wright had nothing to gain from helping out Duffy financially, it was friend to friend.

[The_Squid]

Duffy failed to provide auditors at Deloitte with financial statements, credit-card bills, or information on where he was when he billed the taxpayer for daily expenses. He also did not meet with the auditors, despite requests.

By looking at Duffy's Senate cellphone bills, Deloitte eventually turned up one unusual charge: daily expenses incurred while he was in Florida. Duffy's office had listed him as being on Senate business, but Duffy called that a clerical error.

Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Harpers+chief+staff+personally+bailed+embattled+Mike+Duffy/8388457/story.html#ixzz2TO1yHmEQ

Duffy scams taxpayers and then the PMO helps him to cover it up.

They will "go easy on him" (what do the CPC supporters think this means?)

They should push for the legislation of course, but are still waiting for a answers to the legal questions from the courts before going ahead with it.

I don't think there's anything stopping a friend from helping out another friend financially, there's nothing wrong with that, but it's amazing how it can be turned into something else. Nigel Wright had nothing to gain from helping out Duffy financially, it was friend to friend.

lol

You are either supremely naive or a partisan hack! Friend helping a friend! Hilarious.

Edited May 15, 2013 by The_Squid