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Where there was once just Nigel Wright, the prime minister said for the first time Thursday that a “few” people knew of the scheme to pay Sen. Mike Duffy $90,000 for his questionable housing expenses.

Stephen Harper made the comment Thursday during question period in the House, immediately drawing jeers from the opposition benches.

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“Mr. Wright has been clear. The decision to pay Mr. Duffy with his own money was his and his alone. He informed very few people,” Harper said. “Any insinuation, any suggestion that I knew or would have known is incorrect. As soon as I knew, Mr. Speaker, I made this information available to the public and took the appropriate action.”

On June 5 in the House, Harper said: “Those were [Wright’s] decisions. They were not communicated to me or to members of my office.”

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, who has been peppering the prime minister with questions on the subject all week, jumped on the admission.