Reality check: A watered down report, despite what Stephen Harper says

It seems not even a week can pass in Ottawa without fresh revelations on Mike Duffy and the Senate expense scandal.

The media has once again reported more details of the RCMP investigation into Mike Duffy’s inappropriate expenses and attempts by people in Stephen Harper's office to try and cover it up. RCMP investigators are suggesting that Nigel Wright’s role in the scandal was to ensure a senate expense report went easy on Duffy:

“I believe there was an agreement between Duffy and Wright involving repayment of the $90,000 and a Senate report that would not be critical of him, constituting an offence of frauds on the government.” – Document filed in court by RCMP officer Greg Horton, quoted by the CBC, September 3, 2013

Yet just a few weeks ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper verified the independence of the senate expense report and swore that everything was fine.

“That report mirrors the recommendations of an independent audit conducted on behalf of the Senate.” – Stephen Harper, House of Commons, May 28, 2013

With the extent of his staff’s shenanigans, one has to wonder who advised the Prime Minister to issue such a categorical defence of such a problematic report.

Canadians deserve better.