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

Changes To Police Record-Check Policies Hopeful: B.C. Privacy Commissioner

In a critical report released last year, Elizabeth Denham said police record checks were revealing sensitive personal information beyond what was necessary for employment or volunteering.

Changes To Police Record-Check Policies Hopeful: B.C. Privacy Commissioner

Laid off Target workers face grim job prospects, labour experts say

TORONTO — Laid off retail workers, including more than 17,000 hit by Target's decision to pull out of Canada, face grim job prospects as they dust off their resumes and start looking for work, according to labour experts.

Laid off Target workers face grim job prospects, labour experts say

Beyond Fort McMurray, oilpatch country feeling the pinch from low crude

CALGARY — If low oil prices stick around much longer, the operations manager at Lac La Biche Transport Ltd. says he will have to layoff workers.

Beyond Fort McMurray, oilpatch country feeling the pinch from low crude

NDP seeks probe of Canada Revenue Agency's text message destruction

OTTAWA — A New Democrat MP is asking the federal information watchdog to investigate the Canada Revenue Agency's systematic deletion of employee text messages.

NDP seeks probe of Canada Revenue Agency's text message destruction

Ottawa threatens to use rare law in Buy America dispute with U.S.

OTTAWA — The Canadian government is threatening to block a U.S. construction project in British Columbia after the state of Alaska rejected Ottawa's demands that it ditch the project's Buy America restrictions.