Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel says Wright wanted to ensure no taxpayer money 'on the hook'

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel said she’s “disappointed” over the ongoing Senate expenses scandal but stands firmly by her party, and the government is motivated by a “desire to make sure that we have accountability and transparency in the Senate.”

Speaking for the Conservatives on CTV’s Question Period Sunday, the Calgary-Centre North MP expressed her frustration over the expense claims controversy.

CTV Ottawa bureau chief Robert Fife reported earlier this week that Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, helped Sen. Mike Duffy pay back a $90,172 debt to the Senate for improperly claimed living expenses.

 The PMO then confirmed that Wright, a former Bay Street executive, wrote a personal cheque to Duffy as a gift to an old friend, although sources say the two men are not close.

Rempel says that based on her understanding, there were no strings attached to that cheque.

“Based on my understanding, Mr. Wright was seized with a burden of making sure that taxpayers’ dollars were not on the hook in this situation,” Rempel said.

The interview was conducted before Sunday morning’s announcement that Wright had resigned.

“I think when these expenses came to light, there was a desire on behalf of the government to ensure that -- even though they might not pass the smell test -- that we need to make sure taxpayers first and foremost have a sense of accountability and transparency with this government. And I think that’s where these actions stem from.”

“Certainly, am I as a person disappointed in what appears to be some serious problems on behalf of one of our former senators? Yes, I am, and I’m sure your viewers are as well,” Rempel told CTV QP host Kevin Newman.

“But I don’t think that there can be an implication here that there is anything other than a desire to make sure that we have accountability and transparency in the Senate on a go-forward. ”

No one is more disappointed in the situation than Harper himself, Rempel said.

She said the Conservatives were brought into power with a promise for more government transparency and the government has not strayed from that mandate, citing the Conservatives’ introduction of The Federal Accountability Act.

“When you look at individual accountability and responsibility, you also have to understand that there a group of people that should not be painted with the same brush,” she said.

Speaking on Question Period, NDP MP Olivia Chow said there are many unanswered questions regarding the expense matters that came light last week.

“We need to get to the bottom of it, which is why we need an independent investigation,” Chow said.

Original Article
Source: ctvnews.ca
Author:  Karolyn Coorsh

No comments:

Post a Comment