Paul MacNeill, publisher Eastern Graphic

Second Opinion by Paul MacNeill, publisher Eastern Graphic

Eastern Graphic

It was a hard week for Mike Duffy. First he was singled out in a report outlining the massive costs associated with appointing 27 senators by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Then Duffy spewed personal attack after personal attack at the author of the report in a boorish, overbearing and immature national television appearance.

The fallout against PEI’s newest senator was swift. National commentators, stunned by the non-professional and personal tone of Duffy’s attacks, skewered him.

And rightfully so.

Long-serving NDP MP Peter Stoffer of Nova Scotia wrote the report that so upset Duffy. The MP is highly respected by members of all political parties. His report pointed out the massive hypocrisy of the prime minister who has long promised never to appoint senators.

Well, that was before he decided to appoint 27 of them in the past year – more senate appointments in a single year than any other Canadian prime minister in history. Appointments included the former reporter Duffy, the husband of a Conservative cabinet minister, Conservative fundraisers, and defeated Conservative candidates.

It was a Conservative patronage orgy.

Using a little math and public disclosure documents Stoffer calculated the Conservative appointments would cost Canadian taxpayers $177 million over 20 years. He also pointed out that in the first three months after his appointment, Duffy racked up $44,000 in travel expenses.

Duffy didn’t even try to hide his disdain for Stoffer during a joint appearance on CBC. He repeatedly called the MP a ‘fake’. He claimed – wrongly – that Stoffer does not support Canadian troops. He tried to convince us his travels are as relevant as those of an elected MP, citing the Senate’s role in our parliamentary system. It’s a tad ironic given many believe Duffy’s appointment is actually invalid because he did not meet legal residency requirements.

Regardless, the sight of the tuxedo-wearing senator calling a sitting elected MP a fake was disgraceful. Most compelling was Stoffer’s coolness. The cooler he got, the more outrageous Duffy became.

At no point did Duffy even attempt to explain or justify the key question raised by Stoffer – the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister and the costs his flip-flop will force upon taxpayers.

In just a few short months, Mike Duffy has become the public face for those demanding senate reform. He has lowered an already low level of debate. He has repeatedly jumped in the gutter and fired personal attacks. Think back to his nasty comments about PEI Premier Robert Ghiz and Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams.

As an Islander it is exceedingly disappointing that an Island senator who boasts magnificent communication skills routinely forgoes civility for torpedo personal attacks.

The senator’s credibility is in tatters. He is perceived as a thin-skinned Tory attack dog. And last week was just the latest in a growing list of embarrassing outbursts proving it. He should do us all a favour and shut up.

The full interview can be found at http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Politics/ID=1320633779

Paul MacNeill is Publisher of Island Press Limited. He can be contacted at paul@peicanada.com