Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff Ray Novak told CTV News Friday that he did not know Nigel Wright intended to give Mike Duffy a $90,000 cheque to pay back questionable Senate expenses.
CTV’s Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife caught up in Novak in Ottawa Friday morning and pressed him for answers on the Duffy expense scandal.
“I did not know that Mr. Wright was going to cut that cheque,” Novak told Fife Friday morning.
“Beyond that, I will speak at the appropriate time. Now is not the appropriate time.”
Novak’s statement comes after Benjamin Perrin, a former lawyer for the Prime Minister’s Office, testified at the Duffy trial that Novak was present for two discussions about Wright’s payment.
In the wake of the scandal, Harper defended Novak on the campaign trail last week, placing the blame firmly on Wright, his former chief of staff.
"Mr. Novak has been very clear with me," Harper said, neglecting to elaborate further.
Duffy’s trial has been adjourned until Nov. 18.
With files from The Canadian Press
