Prime Minister Harper met with members of the Senate to discuss ongoing issues related to Senator Duffy, Senator Wallin, Senator Brazeau, and Nigel Wright. Harper maintained that he was unaware of Wright's secret payment to Duffy and was deceived in the matter. Despite opposition attempts to implicate Harper in wrongdoing, none have provided evidence that he behaved inappropriately. The discussion then turned to Senate reform, with Harper disagreeing with Justin Trudeau's decision to expel Liberal Senators and believing that Canadians want an elected Senate. An Angus Reid poll found that half of Canadians want to abolish the Senate, while most others support reform over the current system.

1. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 7, 2014
Prime Minister Speaks on the Issues of Nigel Wright and Senate Reform
OTTAWA---Prime Minister Stephen Harper met today with members of Senate to discuss the
latest turn of events in the issues troubling the Senate.
Speculation and criticism aimed at Harper regarding the expense claims of Senator Duffy,
Senator Wallin, Senator Brazeau, and former Chief of Staff Nigel Wright’s actions have become
a regular occurrence for the Prime Minister. Today’s meeting of the Senate proved no different
in that regard, with Harper coming under fire again for issues concerning the actions of Wright,
who was dismissed in late October.
The point of contention today was in regards to Harper’s statement at that time which said that
Wright had resigned and raised questions as to how much he really knew during the events.
Harper stated that he was kept in the dark and deceived regarding the deal between Senator
Duffy and Nigel Wright as he had demanded that Duffy pay back the expenses in question from
his own funds.
“I was told that was what he (Duffy) agreed to do. I was told that is what he (Duffy) had done,”
said the Prime Minister.
Harper has said on numerous occasions that Wright made the decision on his own to cut Duffy a
cheque to cover the expenses without consulting him at any point. Questions regarding an email
which was sent to the Prime Minister for approval of an item at that time have not been linked to
any wrongdoing on the part of Harper.
Harper has continued to insist he first learned of Wright’s “secret payment” on May 15, the day
after it was reported by CTV National News, and that he immediately took “appropriate action.”
The RCMP back up the Prime Minister’s claim in their affidavit which indicates that they were
not able to find any evidence suggesting he knew of any deal. Wright and his lawyers also stated
that Harper was left in the dark concerning the repayment as he had never discussed it with the
Prime Minister.
Despite repeated attempts by the opposition to cast Harper as a villain in the Senate scandal,
none have been able to show anything to demonstrate he has behaved in anything but an
appropriate, responsible manner throughout the entire scandal.

2. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
The topic wasthensteeredtowardsitsintendedcourse and revolvedaroundJustinTrudeau’srecent
decisiontoexpel Liberal senatorson Wednesday,January29. The Prime Ministerstatedthathe andthe
Canadianpeople disagree withthiscourse of action.
“What the Liberal Partydoesn’tunderstandisthatCanadiansare not lookingforabetterunelected
Senate,”he said.“Canadiansbelievethatforthe Senate tobe meaningfulinthe 21st centuryitmust be
elected.”
An AngusRiedpoll fromNovemberrevealedthataccordingtohalf (50%) of Canadianadultspolled, the
redchamber shouldbe abolishedaltogether,while 43% believe the Senate shouldbe reformed.Only
sevenpercentsay the institutionshouldbe leftasis.
“I gatherthe change announcedbythe Liberal Leadertodayisthat unelectedLiberal senatorswill
become unelectedsenatorswhohappentobe Liberal,”he added.
Whenaskedwhathe believedshouldhappentothe Senate,the Prime Ministersaidthatthe
Conservativeshave sentaquestiontothe Supreme Courtaskingthemtorule onthe constitutionalityof
and to whatdegree Parliamentisable tomake inregardsto senate reform.The Conservativessayif
theycan’t make theirreforms,theywouldfavourabolishingthe Senateinstead.
MediaContact: Sheryl Doiron
DeputyDirectorof MediaRelations
Office of the Prime Minister
80 WellingtonStOttawa,ON K1A 0A2.
Phone 1-800-310-3030.