I think Mike Duffy's behaviour during the audit into senators expense accounts is illuminating on how the conservatives in general behave to circumvent and delay the checks and controls in our system meant to prevent and lessen the impacts of abuse of power.
6 surprising things in the Senate expense audits - Politics - CBC News
When Duffy finally did offer to cooperate with auditors near the end of the process, it came at a time when it would have delayed it.
Just one more example of a party who's "success" is built on the principles of deny, delay, distract.
6 surprising things in the Senate expense audits - Politics - CBC News
Co-operation with auditors
Conservative Senator Mike Duffy did not co-operate with Deloitte auditors. He did not provide any documentation. Deloitte had to piece together Duffy's whereabouts using records for his Senate-issued cellphone and Senate-issued American Express corporate credit card
Both Independent Senator Patrick Brazeau and Liberal Senator Mac Harb provided Deloitte with copies of their bank account statements, income tax returns and, in Harb's case, credit card statements. Brazeau does not have any personal credit cards.
When Duffy finally did offer to cooperate with auditors near the end of the process, it came at a time when it would have delayed it.
Meeting with auditors
Both Brazeau and Harb, along with their lawyers, met with Deloitte.
Duffy declined invitations from Deloitte to meet and answer questions. However, Deloitte noted that in late April, when the audit was almost done, Duffy's lawyer sent an email that said Duffy had just offered to meet with the Senate or with Deloitte, presumably to explain his expenses.
But, Deloitte continued, "We understand that the Senate sub-committee notified Senator Duffy that it had agreed Senator Duffy's offer to meet with Deloitte would delay the process, and that the sub-committee agreed that there should be no further delays in the process."
Just one more example of a party who's "success" is built on the principles of deny, delay, distract.