Weston: Senate scandal may be Harper’s worst hour
The widening Senate scandal that the prime minister flippantly tried to dismiss as a “distraction” just days ago has instead become arguably Stephen Harper’s worst hour.
Nigel Wright to face ethics commissioner over Duffy cheque: Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday his former chief of staff will ultimately have to face the ethics commissioner over a $90,000 personal cheque he cut for Sen. Mike Duffy.
PMO denies Senate appointments on hold pending reform
A senior Conservative MP said Thursday that the prime minister will not be appointing senators until there is “substantial reform” to the Senate — but a spokesman for Stephen Harper swiftly contradicted…
The fallout from the Senate expense scandal is putting pressure on senators and MPs to reform the way they disclose their expenses, but it appears the Senate will make changes before the House of Commons does.
Read MoreAs they fought back questions on the Senate expense scandal Thursday, the Conservatives pointed out that three Liberal MPs have run afoul of rules governing housing expenses in recent years.
Read MoreSen. Mac Harb lost one available avenue to have a critical Senate report on his spending quashed after the Speaker of the Senate ruled Thursday the report itself didn’t damage Harb’s ability to do his job.
Read MoreSenator Mike Duffy said Thursday he wants a “full and open inquiry” to answer the many questions Canadians have about the spending scandal that prompted him to leave the Conservative caucus and now has the RCMP..
Read MoreMike Duffy is blowing off any talk of his voluntary resignation from the Senate amid an expense scandal that has reached all the way to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Read MoreMcGregor: A wealthy Conservative party fundraiser named to the Senate by Stephen Harper collected more than $290,000 in directors fees on top of his Senate salary while attending dozens of…
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Senate scandal finds Conservatives slow on damage control
Tim Harper — There is a well-thumbed Conservative manual with a game plan for rising from the Senate spending mud. But this time it is doing no good. This is a government that can’t even get out of the starting blocks, let alone…
Press Gallery smells blood in Senate
John Gormley — Just like the existence of one of the houses of Parliament in the 21st century, one to which lawmakers are appointed and not elected, words like “unacceptable” or “ludicrous” seem inadequate to describe the latest Senate scandal.
Harper abandons his underlings to the heat on the Hill
Michael Harris — When you ride into town to clean up Dodge and open a bordello instead, someone eventually needs to ask for your badge. If the Conservatives don’t get that message, their time in power will soon end. And if they maintain their silence…
Wallin can’t skip out on expenses
Murray Mandryk — Flip through CTV’s late-night re-run schedule and you just might catch a glimpse of now-independent Saskatchewan Senator Pamela Wallin on the beloved sitcom Corner Gas.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ‘apology’ for Senate mess a day late, a dollar short
Michael Den Tandt — Prime Minister Stephen Harper, despite being off in sunny Latin America addressing vital affairs of state, took time out of his hectic schedule to say he’s “sorry,” “frustrated, “and “extremely angry” about the Senate expense scandal…
Amid the political morality tales, some serve us with distinction
Jeffrey Simpson — Thank you, Stephen Mandel. And thank you, Mark Carney. In Mr. Mandel’s case, the citizens of Edmonton can feel grateful for his service as mayor. In Mr. Carney’s case, he spoke clearly and intelligently to…
Forget federal and provincial politics; the action is local
Christopher Hume — Municipal Canada is in shambles. Toronto’s Rob Ford may the most egregious example, but there are many others. From Montreal and Quebec City to Winnipeg and Mississauga, mayors across the country are…
Canadian politicians fail to learn lessons from Richard Nixon
Charles Pascal — We are getting close to the 41st anniversary of the June 1972 Watergate break-in that eventually led to president Richard Nixon’s resignation. Forty-one years of a political lesson every politician on Earth should have learned…
Code of silence crosses party lines
Brian Lilley — Is there anyone left on Parliament Hill with clean hands? Canadians have been treated to a daily parade of outraged MPs fuming over the Senate expense scandal. Demands for audits followed by demands for more answers on edited reports…
NDP ads silent on Thomas Mulcair’s secret
Charles Adler — It’s no secret that Thomas Mulcair loses his temper occasionally. That’s why he is known as Angry Tom. The NDP knows anger may sell well for a talk show host and may work well for a prosecutor, but they know that the public wants…
Entertainment Plus
George Stroumboulopoulos’ CNN debut set for June 9
Long-time CBC-TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos will beam out from CNN starting June 9, the U.S. all-news channel announced Thursday.
The Mix
