IF there was every any doubt that Stephen Harper's Conservatives bear zero resemblance to the long ago reformers who railed against government corruption and pork barrel politics, the expense scandal that's engulfed Senator Mike Duffy has surely put it to rest.
Duffy's challenges with basic standards of ethical behaviour, not to mention the former journalist's professed difficulty understanding forms, are already well known. The senator was caught claiming that he lived in P.E.I. - despite being a fixture in Ottawa for decades - in order to claim $90,000 in expenses over a period of several years, to which he somehow felt entitled.
Duffy later said he was going to do the right thing and pay the money back.
This week, however, it was revealed Duffy never had to worry about coming up with the cash himself. That's because Nigel Wright, Harper's chief of staff, wrote a personal cheque to cover the $90,000 for the hard-up senator.
Why do this? Duffy has attributes valued by the Conservatives. He's a partisan fighter and bagman who delivers - qualities more admired than nobler traits in many Ottawa circles.
Duffy has already disgraced himself and readily become the poster boy for everything that's wrong with the Senate, largely seen as a parking garage for party faithful. But Wright should have known better. Not only was the "gift" against the rules, it leaves the impression that the prime minister's closest allies condone Duffy's fraud.
Harper owes the public an explanation.
