Harper on Harper: PM’s evolving language on Wright-Duffy affair

Amid flurries of questions over Nigel Wright’s $90,000 payment to Senator Mike Duffy, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said repeatedly he has been “very clear” about what he knew when.

But his story’s shifted somewhat in the past six months – most notably on who else, if anyone, knew about the $90,000.

May 28, 2013

Mr. Speaker, the facts here are reasonably simple, whether or not the opposition or anybody else particularly likes them.

The facts are simple and they are clear. It was the belief of Mr. Wright—in fact, I think it is fair to say the belief of all of us—that Mr. Duffy should repay any inappropriate expenses. Mr. Wright ultimately decided, on his own, using his own resources, to assist Mr. Duffy in that repayment, a matter he kept to himself until Wednesday, May 15.

Simple, right? Wright’s money, Wright’s decision – and he didn’t tell a soul.

June 5, 2013

Mr. Speaker, as I have said repeatedly, it was Mr. Wright who made the decision to take his personal funds and give those to Mr. Duffy so that Mr. Duffy could reimburse the taxpayers. Those were his decisions. They were not communicated to me or to members of my office. They were Mr. Wright’s decisions, but he takes full responsibility for them.

Not quite as unequivocal, but still clear that Wright didn’t tell Harper or anyone in the PMO.

Oct. 23, 2013

Mr. Speaker, I addressed this issue some months ago. Mr. Wright has been absolutely clear in terms of who he told he intended to repay Mr. Duffy’s expenses to. He did not say Ray Novak was one of those people. He has named those people. He has been very clear. He has also been very clear that one of those people was not me, because I obviously would never have approved such a scheme.

…

Mr. Speaker, of course, I addressed this issue publicly in July. Mr. Wright has been very clear about who he told or who he informed of his intentions. He has also been very clear that he undertook this action on his own. It was his own decision, using his own resources. He has admitted to me and to others that the decision was a mistake. He has resigned and is accepting his responsibility.

This is the first we hear from Harper of Wright telling anyone about whom he told – his previous assertions were that Wright  didn’t tell anyone. According to RCMP court documents made public in July, Wright told three senior people in the Prime Minister’s Office about his intentions.

Watch: Stephen Harper in Question Period Oct. 23

Oct. 24, 2013

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wright has been clear. The decision to repay Mr. Duffy with his own money was his and his alone. He informed very few people.

The allegations contained in that question are completely false and designed to do one thing and that is to deflect attention from the fact that it is the Liberal senators and the Liberal Party that refuse any reform in the Senate and refuse any attempt to discipline any senators who have behaved inappropriately.

…

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I addressed that matter months ago.

Mr. Wright made this decision. He has been very clear. He informed very few people. It was his own decision and his own initiative. Any insinuation or any suggestion that I knew or would have known is incorrect. As soon as I knew, I made this information available to the public and took the appropriate action.

…

Again, Mr. Speaker, he alleges that many people knew about this. That is simply not correct.

It was Mr. Wright’s decision, using his own resources and by his own admission, documented, he told very few people.

The fact of the matter is that it is the virtually universal view in this party that if a person cannot follow rules, cannot respect the standards of integrity in their behaviour, people do not want them to be a member of the caucus of the Conservative Party

On multiple occasions, now, Harper has stated categorically Wright told “very few people” – not quite the same thing as “a matter he kept to himself.”

Watch: Stephen Harper in Question Period Oct. 24