This Sunday, Mark welcomes:
• Althia Raj, Ottawa Bureau Chief, The Huffington Post
• John Geddes, Ottawa Bureau Chief, Maclean’s
Viewers are also invited to share their thoughts about the week’s political stories:
SCANDAL & QUESTIONS OVER CONDUCT A scandal involving the Prime Minister's Office and the Senate shook Parliament Hill this week. Opposition is now demanding to know the full story behind a secret payment of $90,000 the prime minister’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, personally made to Senator Mike Duffy, whose expense claims were under review. Wright resigned over the issue. Stephen Harper admitted he could have accepted his resignation sooner. Who knew about the transaction between Wright and Duffy? Are there documents?
The Ethics Commissioner is investigating and a Senate committee is re-examining Duffy’s expenses. But the NDP called for a police investigation. The RCMP is now involved. As for the Senate report on Duffy's expenses, it now faces accusations of being whitewashed. Why was the original report edited? Was there political interference?
Duffy said he will not resign despite calls for him to do so. Meanwhile, the NDP launched a campaign to abolish the Senate. How much have all these events hurt the Senate? And have they harmed the Conservative government and its brand of transparency and accountability?
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