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An unintended consequence of the exceedingly long election campaign of 78 days is that MPs’ parliamentary privilege will expire during the writ period.

Normally, this would be mere trivia, but this campaign is being waged during the ongoing criminal trial of suspended senator Mike Duffy.

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His trial, currently in hiatus, resumes August 12, and the crucial testimony of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff, Nigel Wright, is expected on that day or shortly after.

So far, neither the Crown nor the defence has indicated any desire to call Harper as a witness, either independently or to respond to issues that might arise in Wright’s testimony.

And even if they did subpoena him to testify, Harper would very likely claim parliamentary privilege to save himself from taking the stand under oath, as he did in 2007 when he was sued for defamation by Ottawa lawyer Alan Riddell.

Colleague Stephen Maher reported on Harper’s disinterest in appearing as witness last year.