Senate Expenses

Friday April 22, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday April 22, 2016 Judge clears Mike Duffy of all charges A judge in an Ottawa court has cleared Senator Mike Duffy of all 31 criminal charges and delivered a scathing indictment of the political operations of the office of former prime minister Stephen Harper. He called the actions of the Prime Minister's Office under Harper "mind-boggling and shocking.Ó Justice Charles Vaillancourt said Harper's former chief of staff Nigel Wright and other PMO staff executed operations with a precision that would make any military commander proud, all with the objective of containing political damage. Duffy was another "piece on the chess board," and the unwilling partner in a scheme to cover $90,000 in expenses, even though they were likely legitimate, Vaillancourt said. "Could Hollywood match their creativity?" he asked. Vaillancourt called the senator a "credible witness" and said the Crown failed to prove the case on any of the 31 charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. While some of the actions might be seen as "unorthodox," they were not criminal, he ruled. Duffy's lawyer Donald Bayne said the "vindication" should cause those who rushed to judgment like a "political herd" to give serious thought about their actions. "Political figures, public figures are also entitled to due process," he said. "Senator Duffy has been subjected in the last two-and-a-half, three years to more public humiliation than probably any other Canadian in history," he said. Vaillancourt said Duffy's travel claims had no financial or "sinister" motive and no "criminal intent," the judge said. He also concluded that payments made for third-party services funnelled through his friend Gerald Donohue to pay for editorial services, makeup and fitness training were "appropriate." And he said there was no evidence of kickbacks or altered invoices. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-duffy-trial-rulings-fraud-

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday April 22, 2016

Judge clears Mike Duffy of all charges

A judge in an Ottawa court has cleared Senator Mike Duffy of all 31 criminal charges and delivered a scathing indictment of the political operations of the office of former prime minister Stephen Harper.

He called the actions of the Prime Minister’s Office under Harper “mind-boggling and shocking.”

Justice Charles Vaillancourt said Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright and other PMO staff executed operations with a precision that would make any military commander proud, all with the objective of containing political damage.

 

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Duffy was another “piece on the chess board,” and the unwilling partner in a scheme to cover $90,000 in expenses, even though they were likely legitimate, Vaillancourt said.

“Could Hollywood match their creativity?” he asked.

Vaillancourt called the senator a “credible witness” and said the Crown failed to prove the case on any of the 31 charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.

While some of the actions might be seen as “unorthodox,” they were not criminal, he ruled.

Duffy’s lawyer Donald Bayne said the “vindication” should cause those who rushed to judgment like a “political herd” to give serious thought about their actions.

“Political figures, public figures are also entitled to due process,” he said. “Senator Duffy has been subjected in the last two-and-a-half, three years to more public humiliation than probably any other Canadian in history,” he said.

Vaillancourt said Duffy’s travel claims had no financial or “sinister” motive and no “criminal intent,” the judge said.

He also concluded that payments made for third-party services funnelled through his friend Gerald Donohue to pay for editorial services, makeup and fitness training were “appropriate.” And he said there was no evidence of kickbacks or altered invoices. (Source: CBC News)

 

Posted to iPolitics

Thursday August 20, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday August 20, 2015 Duffy trial sapping Conservatives' morale Even a contrarian would not argue that Stephen HarperÕs campaign is off to an inspiring start. A mega-trade deal that would have given the Conservatives a win on the economic front just in time for the election call failed to materialize. Looking at the polls, there is little evidence of the lift in party fortunes that last monthÕs round of child benefit cheques was meant to result in. HarperÕs main rivals each used the first leaders debate of the campaign productively enough to keep the contest too competitive for the incumbentÕs comfort. In Quebec, the positive impact of the return of Gilles Duceppe on Bloc QuŽbŽcois fortunes has turned out to be short-lived, throwing a wrench in the Conservative game plan. The party needs the Bloc to soften up New Democrats in the ridings that Harper has targeted for gains in October. Now the Senate scandal is again front-and-centre in the media, predictably sucking out the oxygen from the Conservative election tour. Nigel WrightÕs long-awaited appearance at Sen. Mike DuffyÕs trial may not have implicated Harper further in the spending scandal but it certainly did not give the 2011 Conservative supporters who have since strayed to other parties a reason to run back to the fold. (Chantal Hebert, Continued: http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/08/14/duffy-trial-making-it-hard-for-many-loyal-conservatives-to-feel-proud-hbert.html) Canada, election, Senate Expenses, scandal, Mike Duffy, media, election, Stephen Harper, campaign, bus

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday August 20, 2015

Duffy trial sapping Conservatives’ morale

Even a contrarian would not argue that Stephen Harper’s campaign is off to an inspiring start.

A mega-trade deal that would have given the Conservatives a win on the economic front just in time for the election call failed to materialize.

Looking at the polls, there is little evidence of the lift in party fortunes that last month’s round of child benefit cheques was meant to result in.

Harper’s main rivals each used the first leaders debate of the campaign productively enough to keep the contest too competitive for the incumbent’s comfort.

In Quebec, the positive impact of the return of Gilles Duceppe on Bloc Québécois fortunes has turned out to be short-lived, throwing a wrench in the Conservative game plan. The party needs the Bloc to soften up New Democrats in the ridings that Harper has targeted for gains in October.
Now the Senate scandal is again front-and-centre in the media, predictably sucking out the oxygen from the Conservative election tour.

Nigel Wright’s long-awaited appearance at Sen. Mike Duffy’s trial may not have implicated Harper further in the spending scandal but it certainly did not give the 2011 Conservative supporters who have since strayed to other parties a reason to run back to the fold. (Chantal Hebert, Continued: Toronto Star)

 

Wednesday August 19, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday August 19, 2015 The back and forth continues at the Mike Duffy Trial As the leaders of CanadaÕs three main political parties continue on their respective campaign trails, Stephen HarperÕs former chief of staff and the lawyer for disgraced senator Mike Duffy were expected to continue their sparring in an Ottawa courtroom on Tuesday. Duffy, who was appointed to the Senate in 2008 by Harper, has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges in connection with his Senate office, living and travel expenses. DuffyÕs lawyer, Donald Bayne, spent much of Monday trying to show that it was not Duffy who demanded money and set conditions to rectify the matter but the Prime MinisterÕs Office. Kerry Kolodiazny, a member of the public following the trial, left, uses his laptop to film himself with Nigel Wright, as he leaves the courthouse in Ottawa on Monday. We see Kolodiazy dressed in a flowered sports coat right out of the 1960s with a hat to match, holding his computer as he leans in to address Mr. Wright, who, as usual, is dressed in a fancy, dark suit and tie. Mr. Wright is smiling broadly. Bayne pressed Nigel Wright, who served as Prime Minister HarperÕs chief of staff from 2010 to 2013, to explain a ÒscenarioÓ co-ordinated between top aides in HarperÕs office and Duffy that included having the senator publicly admit he made a mistake with his expenses and promise to repay them. The initial plan was to have the party cover the bill, as well as DuffyÕs legal expenses and Wright has said he told Harper shortly afterward that Duffy would repay the expenses. Wright wound up writing a $90,000 cheque to Duffy to cover the expenses, telling several people in HarperÕs office as well as some Conservative Party leaders. Wright repeated that he never told Harper about the check. Meanwhile, the campaigns roll on. (Source: Radio Canada) http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2015/08/18/the-back-and-forth-continues-at-the-mike-duff

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday August 19, 2015

The back and forth continues at the Mike Duffy Trial

As the leaders of Canada’s three main political parties continue on their respective campaign trails, Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff and the lawyer for disgraced senator Mike Duffy were expected to continue their sparring in an Ottawa courtroom on Tuesday.

Duffy, who was appointed to the Senate in 2008 by Harper, has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges in connection with his Senate office, living and travel expenses.

Duffy’s lawyer, Donald Bayne, spent much of Monday trying to show that it was not Duffy who demanded money and set conditions to rectify the matter but the Prime Minister’s Office.

Kerry Kolodiazny, a member of the public following the trial, left, uses his laptop to film himself with Nigel Wright, as he leaves the courthouse in Ottawa on Monday. We see Kolodiazy dressed in a flowered sports coat right out of the 1960s with a hat to match, holding his computer as he leans in to address Mr. Wright, who, as usual, is dressed in a fancy, dark suit and tie. Mr. Wright is smiling broadly.

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2011-2015

Bayne pressed Nigel Wright, who served as Prime Minister Harper’s chief of staff from 2010 to 2013, to explain a “scenario” co-ordinated between top aides in Harper’s office and Duffy that included having the senator publicly admit he made a mistake with his expenses and promise to repay them.

The initial plan was to have the party cover the bill, as well as Duffy’s legal expenses and Wright has said he told Harper shortly afterward that Duffy would repay the expenses.

Wright wound up writing a $90,000 cheque to Duffy to cover the expenses, telling several people in Harper’s office as well as some Conservative Party leaders.

Wright repeated that he never told Harper about the check.

Meanwhile, the campaigns roll on. (Source: Radio Canada)

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Tuesday August 11, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday August 11, 2015 Stephen Harper defends travel ban to terror zones Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is defending his proposal to ban travel to parts of the world controlled by terrorists, saying itÕs not a Òhuman rightÓ that such travel is allowed. ÒThis is limited to only those areas that are clearly under the control of terrorist organizations. WeÕre talking about a few, small number of areas in the world,Ó Harper said Monday morning during a campaign stop in Markham. ÒObviously parts of Iraq and Syria would be the kinds of areas that weÕre talking about,Ó he said. On Sunday, Harper said a newly-elected Conservative government would introduce a legal crackdown on so-called terror tourism and go after Canadians who travel to such areas. Harper said that the government advises against such travel and anyone who does go to these hotspots is Òtaking their life into their hands.Ó ÒFrankly, these are not areas where families go. These are areas where we know why people are really going. They are going to terrorist training,Ó Harper said Monday. ÒThere is no human right to travel and visit ISIS. That is not a human right in this country,Ó he said. At an early-morning event in Montreal, Trudeau dismissed the travel ban idea as little more than a distraction from the Conservatives' dismal economic record. (Source: Toronto Star) http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/08/10/stephen-harper-defends-travel-ban-to-terror-zones.html Canada, terror, C-51, anti-Terrorism, Mike Duffy, Nigel Wright, election 2015, court, Senate Expenses, Queen Elizabeth, judge

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 11, 2015

Stephen Harper defends travel ban to terror zones

After several weeks on break, the Mike Duffy trial resumes this week.

Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is defending his proposal to ban travel to parts of the world controlled by terrorists, saying it’s not a “human right” that such travel is allowed.

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“This is limited to only those areas that are clearly under the control of terrorist organizations. We’re talking about a few, small number of areas in the world,” Harper said Monday morning during a campaign stop in Markham.

“Obviously parts of Iraq and Syria would be the kinds of areas that we’re talking about,” he said.

On Sunday, Harper said a newly-elected Conservative government would introduce a legal crackdown on so-called terror tourism and go after Canadians who travel to such areas.

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Harper said that the government advises against such travel and anyone who does go to these hotspots is “taking their life into their hands.”

“Frankly, these are not areas where families go. These are areas where we know why people are really going. They are going to terrorist training,” Harper said Monday.

“There is no human right to travel and visit ISIS. That is not a human right in this country,” he said.

At an early-morning event in Montreal, Trudeau dismissed the travel ban idea as little more than a distraction from the Conservatives’ dismal economic record. (Source: Toronto Star)

2015-08-11tearsheet

Tuesday April 28, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday April 28, 2015

Duffy trial could go longer than expected, Judge Vaillancourt warns

The trial of suspended senator Mike Duffy may drag past its scheduled end date in June and on into the summer, the fall federal election campaign or even beyond into 2016.

“At the rate we’re going” the trial will need more than the 41 days set aside in April, May and June, Judge Charles Vaillancourt suggested Wednesday, urging lawyers to think about scheduling more time to finish.

“I don’t see us completing our task in the assigned number of days,” he said in court.

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By day’s end, as Vaillancourt left the Ottawa courthouse he was asked by reporters if he is confident the trial will wrap up before the expected fall election Oct. 19. He began to reply: “I haven’t — ” when another reporter interjected: “Or this year even?”

“No comment,” he said. “I don’t know how long it’s going to take because I don’t control the number of witnesses or how long it takes with each witness. So we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Vaillancourt said his schedule can always be rearranged, and he is prepared to come back to Ottawa from Toronto to deal with the case but it’s not clear whether other court resources, including the courtroom, and other key players are available. (Source: Toronto Star)

Reposted to National Newswatch and Yahoo Canada News.