Ethics commissioner launches investigation into $90K cheque to Duffy

OTTAWA – The federal ethics commissioner has officially launched an investigation into a $90,000 cheque written by the prime minister’s former chief of staff for Sen. Mike Duffy.

Duffy received the cheque from Nigel Wright as a part of a secret deal to repay a housing allowance that Duffy had been inappropriately collecting for years.

Commissioner Mary Dawson is examining this case to see if any rules were broken under the Conflict of Interest Act.

Since it is now under a formal investigation, Dawson’s office will not be commenting until a report has been filed.

The opposition has been heavily criticizing the prime minister and asking how involved he was in a deal that was cooked up in his own office.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird insists the prime minister was not behind this.

“The prime minister was not aware of the payment until last week after it was reported in the media,” he said.

Baird also claims there are no documents about this deal.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said the facts suggest otherwise.

“In his own words, Senator Duffy ‘stayed silent on the orders of the Prime Minister’s Office.’ A secret cash payment from the prime minister’s chief of staff negotiated by the prime minister’s own lawyer.”

“Will the prime minister call in the RCMP and release all documents related to this secret backroom deal?”

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says this is a very bad situation for the government.

“The highest non-elected member of the executive paid off a parliamentarian $90,000 to obstruct an audit. To make a problem, a political problem go away,” he said.

In a speech to cabinet, the prime minister said he is upset with the conduct of some parliamentarians and his own office but failed to shed light on any of the unanswered questions about the senate expense scandal.

Duffy stepped down from the Conservative caucus on Thursday and Wright resigned on Sunday.