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.]

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Nigel Wright Clarification Needed From RCMP, NDP Says

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson has been asked to explain why the Mounties declined to lay charges against Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, over Wright's payment to suspended Senator Mike Duffy.

NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus has questioned Paulson about whether investigators discussed that decision with the director of public prosecutions or with anyone from Attorney General Peter MacKay's office.

Wright gave Duffy more than $90,000 of his own money to repay Duffy's questionable Senate living expenses.

Last week, the RCMP announced they didn't have evidence that Wright did anything wrong.

Angus says the allegations raised by the RCMP in court documents, which were heavily reported in the media, have raised "many disturbing questions."

"The fact the RCMP has decided not to follow through on the allegations with charges will certainly raise even more concerns, hence my decision to write to you," Angus said in the letter to Paulson.

The affidavit filed in court by RCMP investigators alleged a number of officials in the prime minister's office and in the Conservative Party were aware of negotiations with Duffy to cover expenses that they wanted him to repay.

"The fact that Conservatives acted to keep this deal secret, through the false claim that the money was obtained through a mortgage, certainly raised concerns over breaches of Parliamentary and Conflict of Interest statutes," Angus wrote in the letter.

Wright says he gave Duffy the money because he wanted taxpayers to be reimbursed. The RCMP affidavit suggests Duffy refused to use his own money to do so.

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca/
Author:  CBC  |  By Laura Payton

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