Michael's Musings

All politics is local as 'Duffygate' reaches Kootenay-Columbia federal riding

by Michael J Morris

When Tip O'Neill, a former speaker of the United States House of Representatives coined the phrase, "all politics is local" he obviously was not referring to the Kootenay-Columbia federal riding here in British Columbia. Mr. O'Neill was from Massachusetts.

However, as "Duffygate", the scandal involving Mike Duffy, a member of the Canadian Senate, who represents Prince Edward island but lives in Ontario, continued, Jennifer Ditchburn of the Canadian Press, wrote that one of  Duffy's disputed expense claims included a visit to Kootenay-Columbia riding on April 5, 2011 during the federal election campaign.

"Duffy spoke to Kootenay-Columbia Conservative Association," she wrote, adding that his travel claims suggested he was on Senate business. It is alleged  that he was "double billing" his expense claims, charging the same ones to the Conservative Party and the Senate.

Kootenay-Columbia was not the only riding Duffy visited during the 2011 election campaign, and the Conservative Party claims it paid his expenses, according to the Ditchburn story. So did the Senate.

It's been quite a week in Canadian politics, as Nigel Wright, the chief of staff to Stephen Harper, resigned after Robert Fife, Ottawa Bureau Chief of CTV News, broke the story that Wright had given Duffy a personal cheque for just over $90,000 to repay some illegitimate housing expenses. 

Harper's response was a retake of speech he made eight years or so ago, which really did not address the serious questions being raised about activities in the office of the prime minister and some senators he appointed.

Then he left for South America on some kind of trade mission, leaving his subordinates to field questions.

Meanwhile, in a letter dated May 13, 2013, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sent a letter to the Senate.

It reads in part, from a PDF File of the letter, published in The Globe and Mail,

"Royal Canadian Mounted Police's National Division is conducting a review of the examination conducted by Deloitte respecting Senators Brazeau, Harb and Duffy. These three reports dealt specifically with living allowances and expense claims including assignment assesssment of the aforesaid senators' primary and secondary residency status."

Apparently the Senate was complying with the RCMP requests, according to new reports late on May 23. It must be noted in fairness though that the RCMP had not yet launched a criminal investigation and no charges have been laid against anyone allegedly involved in the entire matter.

Now, back to all politics is local and Kootenay-Columbia. There was a time that reporters in every riding Duffy visited during the 2011 election campaign would be in touch with the Member of Parliament or Conservative candidate, and riding association officials for interviews. Now, of course, all would be issued talking points from the office of the prime minister, or wherever,and the same answers would be given across Canada.

In Kootenay-Columbia that would be David Wilks, who was elected as the Conservative member in the 2011 election. Wilks showed some spunk by speaking out on a Tory budget, and made national headlines, but seems to have lost his voice for anything that may deviate from the party line.

However, Wilks is a retired RCMP officer which he proudly proudly proclaimed in the House of Commons on February 13, 2013 while speaking on Bill C-42 an act to make certain amendments to the RCMP Act.

"Mr. David Wilks (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC):  

    Mr. Speaker, being a retired member of the RCMP, I am very proud to wear the red serge whenever I can."

I really do not expect Wilks to speak out on this matter in his own words, but as a former police officer he knows "Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Full disclosure: I am not now and never have been a member of the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society; however, I did conduct a workshop for its members for which I was paid.