Sen. Mike Duffy attempted to influence the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission鈥檚 upcoming decision involving the right-leaning Sun News Network, a source has told 麻豆影视.
A well-placed source told approached a Conservative insider with connections to the CRTC three weeks ago to discuss Sun Media, which is asking the federal regulator to grant its news channel 鈥渕andatory carriage,鈥� or guaranteed placement on basic cable and satellite packages.
The move would boost Sun News Network鈥檚 profile and revenues.
鈥淵ou know people at the CRTC,鈥� the insider quoted Duffy as saying. 鈥淭his is an important decision on Sun Media. They have to play with the team and support Sun Media鈥檚 request.鈥�
Liberal MP Ralph Goodale said Duffy鈥檚 comments were 鈥渢antamount to saying: 鈥楲et鈥檚 go have a private little visit with a judge.鈥欌��
鈥淭hat is direct political interference with a quasi-judicial tribunal,鈥� Goodale said.
If the CRTC approves Sun Media鈥檚 request, cable and satellite customers across Canada will be paying to have its news channel as part of their TV packages.
鈥淗elping insider friends to get access to power -- this is just unacceptable,鈥� NDP MP Olivia Chow said.
Duffy, who quit the Conservative caucus Thursday night over a growing scandal involving his expense claims, did not respond to CTV鈥檚 request for comment.
He was secluded in his Prince Edward Island cottage -- the home he improperly claimed as his primary residence, resulting in a $90,000 debt to the Senate for repayment of wrongly claimed taxpayer-funded living expenses.
Fife revealed this week that Prime Minister Stephen Harper鈥檚 chief of staff, Nigel Wright, made a secret deal with Duffy to help him repay the money.
Although Duffy denied Wright鈥檚 involvement and claimed in an email to 麻豆影视 that he鈥檇 taken out a bank loan, the PMO confirmed that Wright wrote a personal cheque for $90,000 to the senator.
Canada's ethics commissioner, Mary Dawson, has said that she will investigate Wright's cheque to Duffy.
