Harper’s Dozen: Acting alone ain’t what it used to be

When asked repeatedly by the NDP about PMO involvement in the Senate expense scandal, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have been eager to put the entire blame on Nigel Wright.

“He [Nigel Wright] acted alone”
–Conservative minister James Moore, June 11th, 2013

This lame excuse, which is already highly dubious, was shattered to pieces Tuesday by Mike Duffy’s testimony in front of the Senate, and a CTV news report outlining a long list of additional Conservatives involved in the Duffy-Wright affair.

The scandal has reached right up to the top of the Prime Minister’s inner circle. According to documents, witnesses or public comments, the following people have been mentioned as being involved in the Duffy bailout and cover-up:

• Former Stephen Harper Chief of Staff Nigel Wright (Source: RCMP court documents, countless Conservatives admissions of his role)
• Current Stephen Harper Chief of Staff Ray Novak (Source: Mike Duffy testimony in the Senate, 22/10/2013)
• Current Stephen Harper Deputy Chief of Staff Jenni Byrne (Source: CTV report, 22/10/2013)
• Former PMO staffer Chris Woodcock (Source: RCMP court documents filed on 24/06/2013)
• Executive Assistant to Stephen Harper Chief of Staff Nigel Wright, David van Hemmen (Source: RCMP documents filed on 24/06/2013)
• PMO staffer Patrick Rogers (Source: CTV report, 22/10/2013)
• Former PMO lawyer Benjamin Perrin (Source: RCMP court documents filed on 24/06/2013)
• An additional unnamed PMO lawyer (Source: Mike Duffy testimony in the Senate, 22/10/2013)
• Former PMO staffer and current Senator Carolyn Stewart-Olsen (Source: Mike Duffy testimony in the Senate, 22/10/2013)
• Former Conservative Leader in the Senate Marjory LeBreton (Source: Mike Duffy testimony in the Senate, 22/10/2013)
• Senator Irving Gerstein (Source: CTV report, 22/10/2013)
• Late Senator Doug Finley (Source: CTV report, 22/10/2013)

It’s time for Conservatives to give up on their failed cover-up and to tell Canadians the whole truth about Conservatives’ involvement in the Senate expenses scandal.

Canadians deserves better. They deserve the truth.