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What did he know and when did he know it?
Perceptions by Gerry Warner
Around three years ago, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to Cranbrook to attend a private party to mark the retirement of former Kootenay-Columbia MP Jim Abbott. The whole event was very hush, hush with Harper making only one very limited public appearance at the College of the Rockies. This was in my reporting days so at the appropriate time I dutifully attended COTR to hear what the Prime Minister had to say.
As it turned out, it was a waste of time because the PM had nothing to say to the public that day although he stood patiently at a podium in front of the college foyer for at least 20 minutes and deigned to allow members of the public to stand beside him for a picture.
I remember feeling quite put off about the whole thing because what kind of government leader comes to small town Canada and doesn’t make a speech? It seemed somewhat rude to me that the PM couldn’t be bothered to talk to the locals who contribute to his salary and rarely get a chance to see him in the flesh. There was no news conference either and when I enquired about that I was told the Prime Minister’s visit was strictly private and meant to honour Jim Abbott’s long career only. I certainly had no problem with Abbott being honoured. He deserved it. But why would the Canadian head of state pass up a rare opportunity to speak to the hoi polloi? After all, they elected him and Kootenay-Columbia was one of the staunchest Conservative ridings in the country.
This memory came back to me this week when I watched the rare spectacle of Harper being tongue-tied again. The occasion, of course, was a televised caucus meeting when Harper addressed his restive MPs on the bizarre Senate expenses scandal now rocking Ottawa and his own Conservative Party. And once again, Harper was at a loss for words at least as far as making any attempt to explain how $90,000 left the confines of the Prime Minister’s office and ended up in the hands of disgraced former Conservative Senator Mike Duffy, a one-time journalist, Conservative ultra-loyalist and political bon vivant appointed to the Senate by Harper himself.
Gentle reader, in the twisted world of politics, it doesn’t often get more twisted than this. Duffy, a political Humpty Dumpty if there ever was one, would take a bullet for the Conservative cause without blinking and wasn’t hesitant in letting people know it. Within weeks of being appointed Senator, he was out shilling for the party at Conservative fund-raisers and spent no more time than he had to – which isn’t very much – in the “Sober Chamber of Second Thought.” Apparently, Duffy was so busy politicking – I mean doing senatorial work – that he forgot where he lived. Was it Prince Edward Island or Ottawa? Turns out it was the latter which is why a Senate audit told him to repay $90,000 in unjustly claimed travel and living expenses. And Duffy, after talking it over with his wife, did just that. Or so he told us. However, the audit discovered the near $100 grand came from elsewhere. The Prime Minister’s office in fact signed by the PM’s right-hand man, Chief of Staff Nigel Wright, who as of Sunday no longer serves the public anymore after resigning at Harper’s request.
As said a little earlier, in Canadian politics it doesn’t often get more sordid than this.
Later in the week, in Peru of all places – talk about getting out of Dodge! – Harper found his voice again and vehemently denied he knew anything about the mysterious life-line thrown to Duffy. And at least for now, pending further developments, we have to take Harper at his word though there are many in this country shaking their heads at how this anal-retentive, control-freak of a prime minister could plead ignorance is bliss to a cool $90,000 leaving his tightly controlled, fortress of an office.
From the beginning, Harper has been a champion of “senate reform” and is indeed still talking about it now in the teeth of this incredible scandal. I guess he just got a little behind on the file.
As for Humpty Dumpty – I mean Duffy – he’s gone to ground and is saying nothing at all. But I can’t help wondering what does he know that’s worth $90,000?
– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist and Cranbrook City councillor. His opinions are his own.is opinions are his own.
