All politics is local as 'Duffygate' reaches Kootenay-Columbia federal
riding
by Michael J Morris
However, as "Duffygate", the scandal involving Mike Duffy, a member of the
Canadian Senate, who represents Prince Edward island but lives in Ontario,
continued, Jennifer Ditchburn of the Canadian Press, wrote that one of Duffy's
disputed expense claims included a visit to Kootenay-Columbia riding on April 5,
2011 during the federal election campaign.
"Duffy spoke to Kootenay-Columbia Conservative Association," she wrote,
adding that his travel claims suggested he was on Senate business. It is alleged
that he was "double billing" his expense claims, charging the same ones to the
Conservative Party and the Senate.
Kootenay-Columbia was not the only riding Duffy visited during the 2011
election campaign, and the Conservative Party claims it paid his expenses,
according to the Ditchburn story. So did the Senate.
It's been quite a week in Canadian politics, as Nigel Wright, the chief of
staff to Stephen Harper, resigned after Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief of CTV
News, broke the story that Wright had given Duffy a personal cheque for just
over $90,000 to repay some illegitimate housing expenses.
Harper's response was a retake of speech he made eight years or so ago,
which really did not address the serious questions being raised about activities
in the office of the prime minister and some senators he appointed.
Then he left for South America on some kind of trade mission, leaving his
subordinates to field questions.
Meanwhile, in a letter dated May 13, 2013, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) sent a letter to the Senate.
It reads in part, from a PDF File of the letter, published in The Globe and
Mail,
"Royal Canadian Mounted Police's National Division is conducting a review of the examination conducted by Deloitte respecting Senators Brazeau, Harb and Duffy. These three reports dealt specifically with living allowances and expense claims including assignment assesssment of the aforesaid senators' primary and secondary residency status."
"Royal Canadian Mounted Police's National Division is conducting a review of the examination conducted by Deloitte respecting Senators Brazeau, Harb and Duffy. These three reports dealt specifically with living allowances and expense claims including assignment assesssment of the aforesaid senators' primary and secondary residency status."
Apparently the Senate was complying with the RCMP requests, according to
new reports late on May 23. It must be noted in fairness though that the RCMP
had not yet launched a criminal investigation and no charges have been laid
against anyone allegedly involved in the entire matter.
Now, back to all politics is local and Kootenay-Columbia. There was a time
that reporters in every riding Duffy visited during the 2011 election campaign
would be in touch with the Member of Parliament or Conservative candidate, and
riding association officials for interviews. Now, of course, all would be issued
talking points from the office of the prime minister, or wherever,and the same
answers would be given across Canada.
In Kootenay-Columbia that would be David Wilks, who was elected as the
Conservative member in the 2011 election. Wilks showed some spunk by speaking
out on a Tory budget, and made national headlines, but seems to have lost his
voice for anything that may deviate from the party line.
However, Wilks is a retired RCMP officer which he proudly proudly
proclaimed in the House of Commons on February 13, 2013 while speaking on Bill
C-42 an act to make certain amendments to the RCMP Act.
Mr.
Speaker, being a retired member of the RCMP, I am very proud to wear the red
serge whenever I can."
I really do
not expect Wilks to speak out on this matter in his own words, but as a former
police officer he knows "Not only
must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done." My email is
mj.morris@live.ca
Full disclosure: I am not now and never have been a member of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society; however, I did conduct a workshop for its members for which I was paid.
