The Duffy Affair: More emails reveal Duffy tried to cash in

A new string of emails from September 2009 suggest Duffy was trying to cash in from Conservative coffers. The senator who entered claiming to be non-partisan was already caught in another email, just three months sooner, asking who to charge for an "expanded role" in the Conservative Party.

The Duffy Affair: 2009 email reveals requests for more perks

An email from 2009 shows former Conservative senator Mike Duffy asked the Conservative party for more perks just six months after Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed him. The email shows Duffy's desire to get greater compensation for an "expanded role" in the Conservative party. He suggested joining cabinet without a portfolio to get more perks.

The Duffy Affair: Harper attacks opposition in Question Period

The barrage of opposition questions came again today but rather than stutter and be caught off guard, Prime Minister Stephen Harper fought back, changing the topic and responding with direct attacks on his opponents. NDP leader Thomas Mulcair was able to get through a bulk of his list of questions and like Tuesday, they were sharp and concise.

CRTC lays fines on those who abused robocalls

The CRTC has laid $369,000 in fines on political parties, MPs, and telemarketing company Racknine which it found broke robocall rules.

The Duffy Affair: Senate committee sends case to RCMP

The Senate's Internal Economy committee has unanimously sent senator Mike Duffy's expense claims to the RCMP for investigation last night. The motion came from Conservative Senator Larry Smith after the committee heard a report from Senate Clerk Gary O'Brien which revealed a pattern of living expense claims in Ottawa while working on senate business outside the capital. This comes after days of relentless pounding from the opposition and Liberal Senators who asked for this days ago.

The Duffy Affair: Harper takes a beating in Question Period

For the first time since the scandal broke, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appeared in Question Period to answer the many question opposition leaders had concerning the Duffy affair. NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau hammered the government with short concise questions that were difficult to dodge. At times, Harper looked shaken, and still managed to dodge questions.

Is the RCMP riddled with political interference?

With the Duffy affair digging deeper into the public sphere, the public and many opposition MPs and senators have called for the investigation to be handed over to the RCMP. However, an independent agency with the mandate of enforcing the law may be tainted with political interference after the Conservatives mandated Public Safety Minister Vic Toews to oversee the agency's operations.

The Duffy Affair: Former RCMP head sees "strong grounds" for criminal charges

Former RCMP Superintendent Gery Clement told CTV's Question Period Sunday that he sees "strong grounds" for criminal charges, pointing to fraud or, "more appropriately," breach of trust charges under the Criminal Code as possible avenues for investigators looking into the Duffy affair. However, how independent is the RCMP? New government policies oversee its actions.

The Duffy Affair: Harper absent, Question Period chaotic

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was expected to be in Question Period yesterday but decided not to show up. The opposition has many questions and if the scandal wasn't already noticeable, his absence was even more notable. Conservative MPs were left to scramble to find answers, usually attacking opponents over controversies of their own, Trudeau's senate comments and the NDP MP that's known for not paying taxes.

Robocall Scandal: Six ridings remain Tory amid court finding fraud

On May 23, Federal Judge Richard Mosley ruled he won't toss the election results in six ridings amid finding "thinly scattered" voter suppression and fraud in the May 2011 election. The case comes amid a challenge from citizens and democracy advocacy groups after learning of election fraud. The Conservatives cheered the ruling and recently, Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand demands a crackdown.

The Duffy Affair: Ethics commissioner points to limitations in probe

Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson is telling Canadians her probe will be limited as she readies a third look at former chief of staff Nigel Wright who is involved in a potential conflict of interest when he gave then-Conservative senator Mike Duffy $90,172 to pay off inappropriate housing allowance claims.

The Duffy Affair: Duffy speaks out, calls for public inquiry

Mike Duffy spoke to reporters yesterday and while dodging most of their questions, said he would cooperate with investigations and said he wants Canadians to know the "full story." He said he wants a "full and open inquiry" to answer many of the questions that have floated around for the past weeks. Meanwhile, the RCMP is closing in, but Duffy said he hasn't been contacted by them.

The Duffy Affair: RCMP sends letter to senate asking for documents

On May 16, the RCMP sent a letter to the senate requesting a series of documents they need to investigate the expense claims of senators Mac Harb, Mike Duffy or Patrick Brazeau. Senate Speaker Noel Kinsella confirmed today the RCMP's anti-corruption unit is looking into the affair. The results of the investigation will determine if there are grounds for a criminal investigation.

The Duffy Affair: Two Conservative senators behind audit whitewash

Two senators were allegedly behind the order to whitewash the independent audit to protect former Conservative senator Mike Duffy. One of which, David Tkachuk, chairs the Internal Economics committee, which is where the senate decided to send Duffy's case for a second look. The other is long time loyal advisor to Stephen Harper, Carolyn Stewart Olsen.

PMO: 21 staffers set to make $100,000 salaries

Documents tabled in the House of Commons last week reveal a salary gap within the PMO. The release comes at the request of Liberal MP Frank Valeriote two years after Conservatives cited privacy concerns against a similar request from NDP MP Tyrone Benskin. The PMO employs 91 full-time staffers, 21 of which are set to get a $100,000 salary while 19 are earning less than $50,000.

The Duffy Affair: Duffy case going back to senate committee

While the NDP made a national statement asking the RCMP to investigate the dealings between former chief of staff Nigel Wright and former Conservative senator Mike Duffy, the senate debated what to do with the case. Conservative senators overwhelmingly rejected Liberal calls to bring in the RCMP in favor of sending it back to the same committee that whitewashed the first audit.

The Duffy Affair: Harper gives campaign-style speech, avoids details

Prime Minister Stephen Harper allowed cameras into his caucus meeting today to address recent events. He gave a campaign-style speech saying he's upset about the ordeal but refused to take questions and dodged most of the questions Canadians want answered about the affair. Harper used the speech to muse about a track record on accountability and a need to focus on the economy.

The Duffy Affair: Harper's former legal advisor arranged Wright-Duffy deal

Last week we learned a deal was cut between former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright and former Conservative senator Mike Duffy to try to sweep the growing senate scandal under the rug. It turns out Harper's former legal advisor was the pen to the agreement that was made to go easy on Duffy and pay off his $90,172 in inappropriate expense claims.

The Duffy Affair: NDP calls for RCMP probe

The NDP are calling for a probe into the $90,172 cheque former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright gave disgraced former Conservative senator Mike Duffy in the midst of a senate spending scandal. The scandal has since evolved, particularly since CTV learned that Duffy's actions were linked to an agreement that saw the government cover up his fraudulent housing allowance claims.

The Duffy Affair: PMO Chief of Staff Nigel Wright resigns

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff Nigel Wright resigned this morning in the wake of controversy surrounding disgraced Senator Mike Duffy's housing allowance scandal. After receiving the full confidence of the PMO, Wright has resigned, raising a lot of doubts and questions on what happened and the integrity of the Harper government.

The Duffy Affair: PMO Defends Chief of Staff Nigel Wright

The PMO released a statement Friday defending Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff Nigel Wright after he gifted disgraced senator Mike Duffy $90,172 to pay off inappropriate housing allowance expenses. The gift is now under scrutiny for breaking more senate rules and certainly contradicts Harper's attitude in 2006.

The Duffy Affair: Second audit under way for Duffy

Given recent controversy surrounding then-Conservative senator Mike Duffy's 2011 campaign expenses, the senate leader for the government has asked for a second audit into his expenses. The audit will determine if the senate business Duffy claims on April 27, 28, 29, 2011 are legitimate or if they represent double dipping of campaign charges declared in a Conservative campaign invoice.

The Duffy Affair: Conservatives whitewashed audit report

Recent senate reports obtained by CTV reveal the final copies had omitted many of the crucial details that surround disgraced senator Mike Duffy's scandal. The edits turn certainties into uncertainties and flat out omit other parts, key to answering the many questions floating around these days.

Stephen Harper on Integrity: The Duffy Affair

What started as a $90,172 claim of inappropriate expenses seen as an outrage as part of abusive senate behaviour quickly escalated to a scandal with many more questions than answers. How can you possibly be confused about where you live without a motive? Why would the Prime Minister's right hand man give a disgraced senator a $90,172 cheque? Did Duffy double dip his 2011 campaign expenses and claim them as senate business? Let's take a look at the affair from how it unfolded.

The Duffy Affair: Duffy allegedly lobbied CRTC for Sun News

A source has told CTV News former Conservative senator Mike Duffy tried to lobby the Canada's Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission to aid Conservative news company Sun News in their bid to force Canadians to pay for their channel.

The Duffy Affair: Harper approves of Chief of Staff's actions

Controversy may be mounting around the now independent senator Mike Duffy but as far as Prime Minister Stephen Harper is concerned, his chief of staff Nigel Wright still has his full confidence. There is no word on whether Wright offered his resignation but it's great to know that a scandal that acts to orchestrate a cover up of a senator's wrong doing is fine by "tough on crime" PM Harper.

The Duffy Affair: Duffy resigns Conservative caucus amid brewing scandal

After accepting a $90,172 cheque from Stephen Harper's chief of staff, Nigel Wright, to repay inappropriate use of the senate's housing allowance and recent news that he may have claimed campaign expenses as senate business in April 2011, disgraced Conservative senator Mike Duffy has resigned from the Conservative caucus and will sit as an independent in the senate.

The Duffy Affair: Duffy charging taxpayers on the campaign trail?

As if the housing allowance scandal and secretly accepting a $90,172 cheque from the Prime Minister's chief of staff wasn't bad enough, now we learn Conservative Senator Mike Duffy charged Canadians for senate business while he campaigned for the Conservatives in Toronto in April 2011.

Chief of Staff gifts Mike Duffy money, potentially breaks more rules

Last night, CTV News broke the story revealing Conservative senator Mike Duffy's repayment of fraudulent housing allowance claims was orchestrated by the PMO. Up to date, we learn Stephen Harper's chief of staff Nigel Wright personally paid Duffy $90,172 to cover for the housing allowance repayment. Senate rules reveal the gift may have broken conflict of interest rules while the PMO defends the action.

Harper's Chief of Staff and CPC Senator Mike Duffy made secret deal

According to private emails extracted by CTV News, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff Nigel Wright and Conservative Senator Mike Duffy made a secret deal during the audit to repay $90,172 in fraudulent housing expenses. The intent was to calm public outrage over the abuses of taxpayers' money but has only raised more questions in a scandal that continues to dig deeper into the Harper government's integrity.

New Liberal MP Yvonne Jones wins big in Labrador by-election

Yvonne Jones takes back Liberal stronghold. In a much anticipated by-election, Jones has won with a landslide. We shall see how this will change and narrate the political landscape on the Canadian Political Scene given the new-found momentum behind the Liberal Party with leader Justin Trudeau. Meanwhile, former Conservative cabinet minister Peter Penashue has been left in the cold.

Conservatives solicit votes in emails to public servants

The Conservatives are sending public servants emails linking them to the Canada's Economic Action Plan website and a survey which asks who they will vote for in the next election. The Union of National Defense Employees demands answer and Canadians deserve an explanation as more than $100 million in taxpayer money has been spent on propaganda while unemployment is still an issue.

"Neanderthal" Canadian Conservatives ridiculed on world stage as Carbon levels exceed 400PPM

Carbon levels exceeded 400PPM recently and no matter how much Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver tries to deny climate change, the world is watching and the world is not impressed. Award-winning NASA climatologist James Hansen came under fire by Oliver, being dismissed as an alarmist. Hansen responded, exposing the "Neanderthal" Conservative government that climate scientists have offered to educate. The world responded and the European Union designated the Alberta tar sands as "dirty" and Al Gore started his crusade.

MacKay joins 20 Conservative MPs against taxpayer-funded ads

The list of Conservative MPs against taxpayer-funded attack ads against Justin Trudeau has grown to include some well known names, notably and most recently, Defense Minister and Deputy leader Peter MacKay. While the PMO and Prime Minister Stephen Harper think it is alright to use taxpayer money to fund a campaign of smears and deceit, a growing number of Conservative MPs are standing up for their principle and rejecting petty and desperate politics.

Ethics Commissioner won't probe conflicts of interest in Penashue's campaign

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson won't probe potential conflicts of interest in Conservative candidate Peter Penashue's campaign in Labrador after Green Party leader Elizabeth May launched a complaint. Penashue stepped down as Harper's cabinet minister after acknowledging his campaign accepted illegal campaign donations in the 2011 election campaign. Meanwhile polling trends appear set to give Liberal candidate Yvonne Jones a landslide victory in the riding with over 60% of the popular vote.

Audit: Senators to repay taxpayers thousands in misused expenses

Upon an audit made on the housing allowance and meal expenses of Liberal Senator Mac Harb and Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau, and on travelling expenses of Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin, thousands of dollars will have to be repaid. Senate caucus meetings will take place tomorrow to determine if the forensic audits should be forwarded to the RCMP. This comes at a time when the relevance and legitimacy of the Senate are questioned and the Official Opposition argues the institution should be abolished.

Government warned last year that TFW trumps EI recipients

The government knew for a year that applications for the Temporary Foreign Workers program were happening in the same fields and same regions as people were filing for unemployment. This speaks to their idea of economic management. Why did it take the government one year to remove loopholes in the program? How could changing EI be considered a fix for a separate, broken, program?

Canada's Economic Recovery: Temporary and cheap

It is no secret that Canada's economy is in rough shape. Anyone that looks at the job numbers sees permanent, well-paying jobs, have disappeared and whatever boom of jobs the Action Plan ads claim to have created are in fact temporary and forcefully drop wages in a time when the cost of living is rising rapidly.

Canada to pay ten times more than other countries for ship design

A CBC News Investigation has found Canada will be paying up to ten times more than other countries to design ice-breaker ships for Arctic patrol. The design for the Canadian ship, set to be similar to the Norwegian model will cost $288 million to design while Norway paid less than $100 million to design and build their ships in 2002.

Conservative MPs reject Harper's latest taxpayer-funded campaign

While the PMO and Prime Minister Stephen Harper think it is alright to use taxpayer money to fund a campaign of smears and deceit, a growing number of Conservative MPs are standing up for their principle and rejecting petty and desperate politics. Recently the Liberal Party got a leak of "10-percenter" ads the Conservatives planned to mail constituents on tax-payer dimes to attempt to smear Justin Trudeau.