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OTTAWA – Sen. Mike Duffy will have his audit reopened by the same committee under a cloud of suspicion that it whitewashed the senator’s final report — even after a last-minute attempt to have the RCMP review the audit and final report.

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Stephen Harper had a golden opportunity to say sorry to Canadians and his caucus for the Senate expenses scandal; to explain what he knew, when; and, to put forward some concrete proposals to restore the public’s faith in Parliament.

In short, his speech to caucus was a chance to be accountable. He blew it.

He expressed his unhappiness with the unspecified conduct of “some parliamentarians” and his own office and then patted himself on the back for taking “unprecedented measures” to improve accountability. Canada now has a system of governance that is the envy of the world, “something Canadians are rightly proud of.”