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PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s former parliamentary secretary is criticizing the government and the Bank of Canada over monetary policy.

Dean Del Mastro says Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and the central bank have encouraged a devaluation of the dollar.

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Del Mastro told Peterborough radio station CKRU that recent comments by Flaherty and Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz have had the effect of reducing the currency’s value by about five per cent.

Del Mastro was one of the most fiercely partisan Conservatives in the caucus and was a vocal defender of the government in the House of Commons.

But last year he was charged under the Elections Act accused of improper election spending and resigned from the Conservative caucus.

Del Mastro has said he has done nothing wrong.

In an interview with CKRU over the weekend, Del Mastro said a devalued dollar means higher costs for Canadians.