I just returned from the Conservative Party convention in Calgary, where the hot topic of discussion, of course, was the Senate scandal.
If you've been living under a rock for the past five months, you might not know that three Conservative Senators are accused of claiming inappropriate expenses. Two of them - Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy - have repaid the money but it turns out that the latter's debt was repaid by Stephen Harper's former chief of staff, Nigel Wright. Wright was let go in May and we've since learned that several staffers in the PMO knew about the secret payment.
Interestingly, many of my journalistic colleagues at the convention were almost gleefully musing about this scandal leading to the demise of Harper's political career.
I'm not so sure about that.
Yes, things looks bad for the PM. He appointed the senators and he hired Wright. Moreover, a recent poll suggested that only 21% of Canadians buy his explanation that he knew nothing about Wright's $90,000 "gift" to Duffy.
But Prime Minister Harper has handled the situation decisively and with honour.
For his malfeasance, Wright no longer works for the government.
Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau have all been removed from Conservative caucus and, on Tuesday, were suspended without pay from the Senate for the rest of the legislative session.
Also remember that the Conservative Party is the only party that has any credibility with regard to Senate reform. The party has put forward legislation that would require Senate elections and term limits. This is also the first government - ever - to ask the Supreme Court of Canada for advice on what it would take to either reform or abolish the Senate.
Conversely, the federal Liberals appear to be happy with the status-quo while the NDP wants to abolish the Senate but seems to gaze over that little thing called the Canadian Constitution.
Scandals happen to all governments of all political stripes. In recent memory, there was the federal sponsorship scandal under the Liberals and provincial flops such as ethnic-gate under the BC Liberals and casino-gate under the BC NDP.
It's how the leadership deals with the scandal that ultimately decides that government's fate.
In this case, Stephen Harper is doing all the right things.
