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“He wants more power, a bigger budget and less accountability.”

But former auditor general Sheila Fraser rose to the defence of Mayrand’s integrity and impartiality yesterday, while giving a sharp blast to Poilievre for his public treatment of an officer of Parliament.

“We don’t take these jobs to win popularity contests. We do our work with objectivity,” she said at the evening Commons committee.

Moreover, she said the attack on Mayrand raises concerns for all seven independent officers of Parliament, including the auditor general.

“This serves none of us well. It undermines the credibility of these institutions and at the end of the day, if this was to continue, we will all pay because no one will have faith in government, in chief electoral officers or our democratic system.”

In remarks to reporters, Fraser said she has always found Mayrand to be “very honourable, to take his job very seriously.”

Poilievre’s broadside against Mayrand also drew sharp condemnation in the Commons during the daily question period.

“Will the prime minister stand in this House and apologize to parliamentarians, and apologize to Marc Mayrand, for that cowardly, baseless attack on Canada’s chief electoral officer?” NDP Leader Tom Mulcair demanded.

Stephen Harper responded by congratulating Philippe Couillard, the Quebec Liberal party leader, for his victory Monday night in the provincial election.

Poilievre stood by his morning testimony at the Senate committee.