How to spin a story: lines on the Senate

OTTAWA – Sen. Mike Duffy once showed leadership. Former chief of staff Nigel Wright had the confidence of the prime minister. And Sen. Pamela Wallin’s expenses were comparable to any parliamentarian.

That was then. But this – one $90,000 cheque, several resignations and a Senate audit later – is now.

Days, weeks, and in some cases, months into the so-called Senate scandal, what was true before isn’t necessarily true now.

Duffy’s Senate expenses are now considered ineligible.  Wallin’s $300,000 travel claims are undergoing close scrutiny. And Wright has since resigned.

Below, Global News compiles some of the greatest moments from the past few months. And with even Duffy himself calling for a public inquiry, we may get to the truth after all.

Maybe.

Read more: Sen. Mike Duffy breaks his silence

Feb 13: In the House, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he has looked at Sen. Wallin’s numbers. “Her travel costs are comparable to any parliamentarian travelling from that particular area of the country over that period of time.”

Feb. 22: Claiming confusion with the rules, Duffy pledges to pay back claimed housing expenses. “My wife and I discussed it and we decided that in order to turn the page to put all of this behind us, we are going to voluntarily pay back my living expenses related to the house we have in Ottawa.”

Feb. 25: In the House, Conservative house leader Peter Van Loan says Duffy “clearly maintains a residence in the province and has deep roots in that province.”

Feb. 27: Harper says all senators meet the requirement that they live in the area they were appointed to represent.

Feb. 28: Senate audit fails to turn up any questionable housing allowance claims beyond those of senators Patrick Brazeau, Mac Harb and Duffy.

Apr. 19: Duffy confirms he has repaid more than $90,000 in Senate housing expenses. “I have always said that I am a man of my word. In keeping with the commitment I made to Canadians, I can confirm that I repaid these expenses in March 2013.”

May 9: Senate releases report into housing claims, along with Deloitte audit. Deloitte says all three senators live in Ottawa area, but that the rules and guidelines are unclear, making it difficult to say categorically that anyone broke the rules. Harb and Brazeau are ordered to repay $51,000 and $48,000, respectively. Harb says he will fight the decision.

May 10: Conservative House leader Peter Van Loan on Duffy: “He showed the kind of leadership that we would like to see from Liberal Sen. Mac Harb, who instead is taking up arms against the Senate, saying that he should not have to pay back inappropriate funds.”

May 12: RCMP says it will examine Senate expense claims.

May 14: Brazeau says he also broke no rules and is exploring all options to overturn an order to pay the money back.

May 15: The Prime Minister’s Office confirms that Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright, personally footed the bill for Duffy’s housing expenses because Duffy couldn’t make a timely payment.

Spokesman Andrew MacDougall says Duffy agreed to repay the expenses “because it was the right thing to do.” However, Duffy was unable to make a timely repayment.

“Mr. Duffy has reimbursed taxpayers for his impugned claims. Mr. Harb and Mr. Brazeau should pay taxpayers back immediately,” he says.

May 16: Another PMO spokesman, Carl Vallee, says Wright will not resign. “He has the confidence of the prime minister. “

May 16: Duffy resigns from Conservative caucus.

May 17: Sen. Wallin also announces she’s leaving the Conservative caucus. Her travel expenses, which totalled more than $321,000 since September 2010, have been the subject of an external audit since December.

May 19: Wright announces his resignation as the prime minister’s chief of staff. “My actions were intended solely to secure the repayment of funds, which I considered to be in the public interest, and I accept sole responsibility.  I did not advise the Prime Minister of the means by which Sen. Duffy’s expenses were repaid, either before or after the fact.

“The prime minister says he accepts Wright’s resignation with “great regret.”

“I accept that Nigel believed he was acting in the public interest, but I understand the decision he has taken to resign.  I want to thank Nigel for his tremendous contribution to our government over the past two and a half years.”

Wright is replaced in the chief of staff’s role by Ray Novak, who has been by Harper’s side since 2001.

May 21: Harper addresses his caucus.

“I’m not happy, I’m very upset about some conduct we have witnessed — the conduct of some parliamentarians and the conduct of my own office,” he says.

Later he adds:  “Anyone who wants to use public office for their own benefit should make other plans or, better yet, leave this room.”

In the House, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird reiterates Harper did not know about the repayment, until after it was reported in the media.  He denies the existence of a documented deal between PMO and Duffy.

“Our understanding is there is no document,” says Baird.

May 22: Duffy makes a statement about the Senate referring his expenses to the board of internal economy.  “I am confident that when they do they will conclude… that my actions regarding expenses do not merit criticism.”

May 23: Harper apologizes.

“I’m very sorry that this has occurred. I’m not only sorry, I’ve been through the range of emotions. I’m sorry, I’m frustrated, I’m extremely angry about it,” he said.

Of Mr. Wright, Harper said it was his personal decision to cut the cheque.

“He should have told me earlier; that’s why I accepted his resignation,” Harper said. “Upon reflection, should I have reached that conclusion earlier? Perhaps.”

– With files from the Canadian Press