Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay improperly claimed housing expenses for Senator Mike Duffy. In a statement issued Sunday, Wright said Harper has accepted his resignation "in light of the controversy surrounding my handling of matters involving Senator Duffy." "My actions were intended solely to secure the repayment of funds, which I considered to be in the public interest, and I accept sole responsibility. "I did not advise the prime minister of the means by which Senator Duffy's expenses were repaid, either before or after the fact," said Wright, who had been Harper's chief of staff since January 2011. He said he regrets the impact the matter has had on the government, the Tory caucus and all his colleagues. Ray Novak, Harper's principal secretary since 2008, will take over as chief of staff, the CBC's Hannah Thibedeau reports. Harper issued his own statement on Sunday, confirming Wright's decision. “It is with great regret that I have accepted the resignation of Nigel Wright as my chief of staff. I accept that Nigel believed he was acting in the public interest, but I understand the decision he has taken to resign. "I want to thank Nigel for his tremendous contribution to our government over the past two and a half years," the prime minister said. The Prime Minister's Office had been insisting as recently as Friday that Wright had the "full confidence" of the prime minister and would be "staying on." Harper will meet with his Conservative caucus on Tuesday, one day earlier than usual, before departing on an official four-day trip to South America. (more)
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Harper chief of staff resigns amid Senate expense scandal
CBC News Posted: May 19, 2013 9:03 AM ET
Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay improperly claimed housing expenses for Senator Mike Duffy. In a statement issued Sunday, Wright said Harper has accepted his resignation "in light of the controversy surrounding my handling of matters involving Senator Duffy." "My actions were intended solely to secure the repayment of funds, which I considered to be in the public interest, and I accept sole responsibility. "I did not advise the prime minister of the means by which Senator Duffy's expenses were repaid, either before or after the fact," said Wright, who had been Harper's chief of staff since January 2011. He said he regrets the impact the matter has had on the government, the Tory caucus and all his colleagues. Ray Novak, Harper's principal secretary since 2008, will take over as chief of staff, the CBC's Hannah Thibedeau reports. Harper issued his own statement on Sunday, confirming Wright's decision. “It is with great regret that I have accepted the resignation of Nigel Wright as my chief of staff. I accept that Nigel believed he was acting in the public interest, but I understand the decision he has taken to resign. "I want to thank Nigel for his tremendous contribution to our government over the past two and a half years," the prime minister said. The Prime Minister's Office had been insisting as recently as Friday that Wright had the "full confidence" of the prime minister and would be "staying on." Harper will meet with his Conservative caucus on Tuesday, one day earlier than usual, before departing on an official four-day trip to South America. (more)
Nigel Wright has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, following revelations he wrote a $90,000 cheque to repay improperly claimed housing expenses for Senator Mike Duffy. In a statement issued Sunday, Wright said Harper has accepted his resignation "in light of the controversy surrounding my handling of matters involving Senator Duffy." "My actions were intended solely to secure the repayment of funds, which I considered to be in the public interest, and I accept sole responsibility. "I did not advise the prime minister of the means by which Senator Duffy's expenses were repaid, either before or after the fact," said Wright, who had been Harper's chief of staff since January 2011. He said he regrets the impact the matter has had on the government, the Tory caucus and all his colleagues. Ray Novak, Harper's principal secretary since 2008, will take over as chief of staff, the CBC's Hannah Thibedeau reports. Harper issued his own statement on Sunday, confirming Wright's decision. “It is with great regret that I have accepted the resignation of Nigel Wright as my chief of staff. I accept that Nigel believed he was acting in the public interest, but I understand the decision he has taken to resign. "I want to thank Nigel for his tremendous contribution to our government over the past two and a half years," the prime minister said. The Prime Minister's Office had been insisting as recently as Friday that Wright had the "full confidence" of the prime minister and would be "staying on." Harper will meet with his Conservative caucus on Tuesday, one day earlier than usual, before departing on an official four-day trip to South America. (more)
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