Harper dogged by controversy

The Toronto Star:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the GTA Thursday for the third time in as many weeks amidst federal election speculation and on the heels of yet another former staffer bragging about his access to the Conservative government.

Harper is to speak to the Brampton and Mississauga Boards of Trade on the economy but the focus will undoubtedly be on his decision to ask the RCMP to investigate one of his former top advisers Bruce Carson for allegedly promising special access to the government in exchange for money.

The Harper government has recently been dogged with controversy from document altering and election spending scandals to being warned by the House of Commons Speaker that they risked being held in contempt of Parliament if they did not release documents.

“In my view, the Harper government has basically adopted the strategy of never apologizing, never admitting your wrong, never giving the Opposition anything that could counted as a victory. Then hope it all blows over,” Toronto area communications consultant Gerry Nicholls, a former colleague of Harper’s at the National Citizens Coalition, told the Star.

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