Select Timeline of the Duffy Scandal
with cross-compared claims

Feb. 8
The Senate announces it has hired outside auditor Deloitte to examine the residency declarations and related expenses of Duffy and two other senators. It is also seeking legal advice about Duffy’s residency status for being a senator from Prince Edward Island.

Feb. 17
Harper tells the House that Duffy met the residency requirement for the Senate, but does not tell the House the Senate had determined otherwise. (See May 7.)

Feb. 22
Duffy tells CBC News that he and his wife "are going to voluntarily pay back [his] living expenses related to the house we have in Ottawa." He blames the expenses controversy on a confusing residency declaration form and unclear rules. (See May 8.)

March 26
Auditor Deloitte receives a letter from Duffy’s legal counsel stating that Duffy repaid more than $90,000 in expenses, and would no longer be participating in the audit. (See May 15.)

April 19
Duffy issues a statement saying he has repaid more than $90,000 in housing and living expenses. The Senate Committee on Internal Economy confirms the $90,172.24 repayment, but does not say when payment was made.

May 7
The expense report arrives at the Senate committee. It states that Mike Duffy broke the Senate’s “very clear [and] unambiguous” residency rules. Since his primary residence was in Ottawa Duffy did not meet the requirements for a housing allowance.

May 8
Harperite Senators used their majority to send the report back for a re-edit. On orders from two key Harperites on the committee, Chairman David Tkachuk and Carolyn Stewart-Olsen, key critical paragraphs were cut. Also, the “revised” version removes any condemnation of Duffy and states that the residency rules were “unclear”. (Stewart-Olsen is a former press secretary to Stephen Harper and was his political advisor for more than 10 years.)

May 14
Duffy sends an e-mail that night to CTV stating that he took out a loan and received no money from Nigel Wright, Harper’s chief of staff. (See May 28.)

May 15
The prime minister’s office releases a statement confirming Wright’s payment of Duffy's bill in March.

May 16
Duffy is expelled from the Harperite caucus.

May 17
A PMO spokesman says Wright is “staying on” as chief of staff.

May 19
Nigel Wright resigns, claiming he did not tell Harper of the repayment.

May 22
Harper denies any knowledge of Wright’s cheque: “I was not consulted, I was not asked to sign off on any such thing. Had I obviously been consulted, more importantly I would not have agreed, and it is obviously for those reasons that I accepted Mr. Wright’s resignation.”

May 28
During Question Period in the House, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair reads an e-mail from Duffy, stating that after being paid $90,000, “he stayed silent on orders of the prime minister’s office.”

June 3
Harperite Sen. Marjory LeBreton says she will ask the auditor-general to look into all Senate expenses.

June 4
Senate ethics officer Lyse Ricard suspends the Senate’s investigation into Nigel Wright’s $90,000 payment to Duffy because Wright is under RCMP investigation.