Island political party associations should learn from the Mike Duffy trial: Think twice before inviting senators to speak at events.
Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan had the unwelcome distinction this week of being the first person from Parliament Hill to testify at the trial of suspended Senator Duffy, who is charged with 31 counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, including 18 related to trips he took at public expense.
Duncan, who is the government whip, told the court he invited Duffy to speak at a fundraising dinner in Courtenay in June 2009 because the former television reporter had a reputation as someone who could fire up a partisan audience and encourage donations. The riding association paid for some of his meals and two nights in a hotel.
Later, the association got an invoice from the senator鈥檚 office, which it refused to pay. The Senate also got a bill from Duffy, for $2,173, which it paid.
The Crown says trips like this one were partisan or personal and shouldn鈥檛 have been expensed. The defence says it was a combination of public and partisan, so it was acceptable under the Senate鈥檚 vague rules.
Riding associations don鈥檛 need the publicity that comes from dubious expense claims, so why take the risk by flying a senator across the country to preach to the converted? There are better ways to stir up the faithful and open their wallets.
If you must book a high-flyer, make sure taxpayers don鈥檛 foot the bill.
And consider another part of Duncan鈥檚 testimony: Dinners such as this one are poor fundraisers, anyway.
