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Stephen Harper didn’t even try to directly answer opposition allegations in question period Monday about the explosive new claims from Mike Duffy’s lawyer that the Prime Minister’s Office approved of the senator’s housing expenses.

NDP Deputy Leader Megan Leslie pointedly quizzed Harper, who was in the House for question period for the first time this session, on the latest allegations about the Mike Duffy Senate scandal made only an hour earlier in Ottawa.

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“According to [lawyer Donald Bayne], documents from the PMO outline how this involved quote ‘cash for repayment,'” Leslie said. “Can the prime minister confirm that his office threatened to kick Mike Duffy out of the Senate if he didn’t go along with his scheme?”

Even by the standards of question period, Harper’s response avoided specifics.

“We’ve been very clear that we expect all parliamentarians to respect the letter and the spirit of any rules regarding expenses and if they do not respect that, that they can expect there to be consequences and accountability for their actions,” Harper said. “Now Mr. Speaker, I will just say this, I’ve noticed … the NDP’s instant opposition to the Canada-Europe trade deal and I guess, Mr. Speaker, the reason why we’re seeing them ask these kind of questions is because on the big issues they are wrong.”