Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff wrote cheque to cover Mike Duffy’s expense claims

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff wrote a personal cheque to reimburse taxpayers for Sen. Mike Duffy’s improperly claimed living expenses. The prime minister’s office confirmed Wednesday that Nigel Wright, a former Bay St. financier, was behind the $90,172 payment Duffy made earlier this year. “The Government believes that taxpayers should not be on the hook for improper expense claims made by Senators,” said Harper spokesperson Andrew MacDougall said in a statement. “Mr. Duffy agreed to repay the expenses because it was the right thing to do. However, Mr. Duffy was unable to make a timely repayment,” MacDougall said. “Mr. Wright therefore wrote a cheque from his personal account for the full amount owing so that Mr. Duffy could repay the outstanding amount,” he said. Full Star story