He blames it on vague and confusing Senate rules, and he still doesn't think he did anything wrong, but Senator Mike Duffy now says he will repay taxpayers for the housing allowance he claims for his home in Ottawa. Duffy had claimed over $40,000 in living expenses since 2010 for his Ottawa residence where he has lived for decades. He says his primary residence is in PEI, but the provincial government there doesn't recognize him as an Island resident. Duffy doesn't even have a PEI health card and he's registered as a voter in Ontario. He says he believes he was entitled to the money but now he says he "may have been mistaken." Duffy says Canadians have known him for years and says "they know that I would never do anything that was inappropriate and I would never ever take advantage of my position."
It seems to me however he has done just that and now he expects us to simply say okay, apology accepted, pay us back and everything will be fine. NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus says sorry doesn't cut it, that there must be consequences. He wonders what disciplinary action might result. So are we.
Hope turned to despair this weekend as divers confirmed there were no bodies onboard the overturned hull of the fishing boat Miss Ally that capsized a week ago in stormy weather with the loss of all five young men on board. The community of Woods Harbour was hoping to at least bring the bodies home for burial but it seems now the five have been lost at sea. There's still anger that perhaps the search was called off too soon. Defence Minister Peter MacKay has promised a full review of the effort.
The head of Irving Shipbuilding is taking exception to comments from Liberal leader Stephen McNeil. McNeil expressed concern last week that jobs associated with the multi billion dollar navy shipbuilding contract would be outsourced overseas. James Iving says he's offended by what he calls "cheap political shots" that he says do not align with the facts and the reality of efforts to date. Irving says the shipyard remains as "firmly resolved to sustain and grow opportunities in Nova Scotia as we were almost 20 years ago when we proudly took ownership of the Halifax Shipyard. Irving says in addition to qualified trades, there will be highly skilled, good paying professional positions that will be located in Nova Scotia and there will be work as well for local contractors. He says the shipyard is doing everything it can to "sustain and grow jobs."
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
