National

Mike Duffy's Former Executive Assistant Tells Of Office Procedures

The Canadian Press, 09 Jun, 2015 11:36 AM

OTTAWA — Mike Duffy's former executive assistant is testifying again today at the trial of the embattled senator.

Melanie Mercer, a former political staffer, worked for Duffy following his 2009 Senate appointment until he was suspended from the upper chamber in 2013.

Mercer has testified on a practice in Duffy's office, which involved having the senator sign blank travel claims.

She says two aides from other senator's offices suggested this strategy as they showed her the ropes.

Mercer told court she thought the procedure was very practical and she didn't think anything of it at the time.

Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Supreme Court Rules Quebec Infringed On School's Religious Freedom

OTTAWA — A divided Supreme Court of Canada disagreed over the subtleties, but in the end upheld the religious freedom of a historic Montreal Jesuit school to teach Catholicism in the way it chooses.

Supreme Court Rules Quebec Infringed On School's Religious Freedom

ISIL A Threat That Must Be Checked: Canada

OTTAWA — Canada wants to expand its mission against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria because they pose a continuing threat that will grow if it's not checked, Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson said Thursday.

ISIL A Threat That Must Be Checked: Canada

Social Media Contributes To Winter Negativity

HALIFAX — People in storm-battered Atlantic Canada might be fixated on winter, but a psychology professor says tweeting about it isn't the best way to blow off steam.

Social Media Contributes To Winter Negativity

Judge Denies Kamloops Man's Plea To Have Seized Marijuana Plants Returned

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A provincial court judge has denied a Kamloops, B.C., man's application to be reunited with 10 medical marijuana plants that were seized by RCMP last summer.

Judge Denies Kamloops Man's Plea To Have Seized Marijuana Plants Returned

PM Harper Tweets Inaccurate Picture Of NBAers During Canadian Basketball Night

A post from the prime minister's official Twitter account showed a picture of him with Canadian basketball stars Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, both members of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

PM Harper Tweets Inaccurate Picture Of NBAers During Canadian Basketball Night

Balance Or Bust? Debate Emerges Over Feds' Push To Eliminate Deficit In 2015

The Harper government's stubborn push to eliminate the deficit in its election-year budget has opened a debate: should it even bother scrambling to balance the books at all, particularly with the financial sting of the oil slump?