One of our senators, Mike Duffy, got into serious trouble earlier this year over his expense account. He charged for a main residence in Prince Edward Island (PEI) and a house in Ottawa. There was no house in PEI. In fact, it was very dubious if Duffy had a claim to residence in PEI for many years. So politicians being politicians, they began yelling at each other and asking questions. The answers changed as the procedure moved along for several months. Other discrepancies were found in the senator's expense accounts.
Three other senators were found with expense account inaccuracies. One senator paid back most of what was over the limit.
Now Senator Duffy was appointed by Prime Minister Steven Harper. Steven Harper apparently wanted somebody who could speak to party members and get them to part with their cash. It looks like Duffy used some of his Senate expense account money to pay for his time, effort and travel to promote his own party.
Now this didn't look good for Steven Harper's government. So a scheme was invented to give Duffy $90000.00 so that he could pay his illegal expenses back to the government. The plan was hatched up in the Prime Minister's office(PMO). So one of the PMO staff cut a check from his own bank account. The operation quickly fell off the rails and got the government in more trouble than before.
Now a full scale audit was started. Then Mike Duffy was suspended from the Senate. So the Prime minister and the Senator quickly became enemies. Senator Duffy was claiming that the PC told him to claim expenses for Conservative Party of Canada business. Then the RCMP was brought in to make a criminal investigation. Recently Mike Duffy was charged with 31 offenses. One of the offenses was accepting a bribe from Nigel Wright from the PMO. However, Nigel Wright, who paid the bribe was not charged!!!
So this is a long story that's far from over . As the story continues it gets more sordid .
Now there's a good possibility that Steven Harper may be called as a witness to this criminal trial. Immediately Steven Harper says he has nothing to say so doesn't intend to appear at the trial as a witness. Steven Harper may not have the choice as to whether he attends or not. I think he's very much fearful of cross examination since he's given a few different versions of his part in this story.
This is a low point for government morality, openness and honesty. When will it change? How can it be changed? When will politicians get some common sense and act in proper manner?
$90000.00 !!!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Canada to the club of politicans and their noses in the "pig trough". We have in Federal, State and Council here. I say no more. I will be very surprised if your Senator Duffy is convicted. Politicans of all sides vote on two things:
1. Increase of parliamentary payments.
2. Don't make a comment on who gets caught - maybe you will be next - both sides and the various other minor parties, as here, parties of questionable intelligent - they live in "ga ga land" - especially our glorious Green Party! One of this group was given "The Star of Lenin" when she was a young member of the Communist Party - done at the Kremlin by N. Khrushchev!
Now we have another bunch of "PUP" senators - words fail me. Just google this mob and make sure you either have an excellent Scotch or pills. I will not be responsible for your "heart attack".
Thank God at present Australia is leading the World on this horrific "mass murder" on MH17.
Colin
Well, as you know I don't see the world as quite that black. You have to listen to all sides and be open minded. sometimes people change for the better.
DeleteWell, gee, Red, this is the part where hallowed PM usually goes into hiding - that has been his career thus far, or create a huge diversion to sway people away from the immediate act. People get fired, admit to wrong doing, somebody gets paid off and gets a better pension because they openly admit their mistakes and all goes back to criminal normal. Maybe this time the hallowed PM may not be able to hide or perhaps he has run out of hiding places?? Way to speak out SIR Red and have all your facts layed out very well. To answer your question - Straight shooters are not permitted to mingle with the PM, straight shooters are not permitted to join in common sense or act in proper manner. I have done great research on PM prior to his appointment and am shocked at his background which is readily available online. He kinda reminds me of recent president G. Bush - every time he opens his mouth a different story pops out. My question is, how would he ever remember which one he told me or you?? As far as Mike Duffy goes, everyone knows why he got appointed in the first place - somebody had to be the "Slick Eddie" of the PM's secret society of best criminal spending.
ReplyDeleteHarper has been a very pious, devious , scheming stinker.
DeleteYou said it!
DeleteSeems like crooked politicians are a universal thing. NO country or society is immune to them. They've been crooked since the beginning of time. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteI don't have quite so black an outlook. there are some that are honest.
DeleteIs that a serious question?
ReplyDeleteYou know the answer to it, don’t you?
Okay, okay, I get it. I would like to dream of a day when things work better.
Deletei read your title and immediately answered 'when humans do'. sadly, that may be never.
ReplyDeleteThere's a sort of twisted comfort in knowing that the politicians on the other side of the border can be as ethically challenged as our own!
ReplyDeleteyes, but I would never point fingers at the other guy.
DeleteIsn't it interesting that politicians these days all seem to be dishonest? Has it always been like this? And it's no different in the country south of your border (that would be us). Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI will speak about my own space and let others speak about their place. I would like to think that there were times when leaders wee honorable.
DeleteIn answer to your question, prob'ly not in our lifetime!
ReplyDeleteI'd bet on that one!
DeleteUnfortunately, while there is so much money floatin g around in the ethereal mist, corruption will always be there, and sadly get much worse in my book. Our system over here is fraught with theft, fraud, paedophilia....you name it. I don't know what the answer is Red, and I fear for my childrens and grand kids future.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we throw the bums out as often as we should. we do have options here.
DeleteWhen will politicians get some common sense and act in proper manner? Don't hold your breath!
ReplyDeleteOkay, that won't work! Now what?
DeleteNever, we have the same problem. Show a politician lots of money and he wants it.
ReplyDeleteWe've got to vote the bums out more often that we do.
DeleteThis is why I'm such a cynic when it comes to politics. I have no respect for politicians, and every time one of them opens their mouth, I'm already suspicious. I never believe anything they say. When will governments become moral, open and honest? Perhaps when the politicians are held accountable with heavy fines and jail sentences for their criminal acts.
ReplyDeleteI can easily see why someone would be cynical. Not enough of us get informed and speak up. Harper won't even let someone like me into his election meetings. The PMO has checked out this blog!
DeleteI think this was why I loved Star Trek. Money was not a drug or a need.
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point.
DeleteAll politicians are crooks and we don't throw any of them in jail....so they continue to take what they can get. SAD :(
ReplyDeleteThere are some honest politicians , but few and they can not turn things around on their own.
DeleteWell down here when an honest God fearing man does run for some office he never gets voted in. Obviously, the biggest part of the people had rather have the crooks running the country. Looks like again it's not what you know, but who you know.
ReplyDeleteOur guy claims to be a pious, go to meeting, God fearing man but he's one of the biggest crooks there are.
DeleteThrow the bum out is what I would say. This job often is just that , a job, not a passion to help everyone.
ReplyDeleteGood gracious- sounds like a scandalous crook to me.
ReplyDeleteThing is, like most stories, the good ones (and there are many) don't become news. What do you think about Duffy's denial of a child in Peru?! IT sure didn't surprise me. Quite the story, this Senator's corruption.
ReplyDeleteI throw up my hands at politicians these days! GB s right; the right people are too smart to become politicians. It's all I can do to get myself out to vote these days, but I do it because it's important. Still, I've gotten awfully cynical about it all and people like Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau and of course STephen Harper are a large part of the reason.
ReplyDelete