Brent Rathgeber (The Canadian Press)A Conservative MP says the recent and much bandied narrative that he and his colleagues are a bunch of "trained seals" kowtowing to the wishes of the Prime Minister's Office is simply a fallacy.

[ Related: Conservative MPs used like 'trained seals,' Rathgeber says ]

As explained by Maclean's, Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, delivered this statement in the House of Commons on Friday morning.

Mr. Speaker, recently we have been called trained seals and it has been said we do not have any choice in representing our constituents. Let me set the record straight. It has been a privilege to represent my constituents who elected me based on the policies we put forward. These policies are made by grassroots members and elected members together. This is teamwork. We do not campaign on our personal agendas.

During my time in Parliament, since 1997, both in opposition and government, I have had numerous opportunities to put views forward and have input in

Nigel WrightIt's not everyday a governing party lashes out against the media.

It's even rarer to see them chide the public broadcaster.

On Thursday, CBC News' Greg Weston produced a report claiming that there was a secret million dollar Conservative Party fund that Nigel Wright had exclusive signing authority on. The story, featured on "The National" with Peter Mansbridge suggested that only a few insiders knew how the cash was spent and that the fund was off limits to the auditor general and even Elections Canada.

[ Related: Five questions about the Conservative Party’s 'secret fund' ]

In a statement released, on Friday morning, Conservative Party spokesperson Fred DeLorey said the story just isn't true.

Last night, the CBC ran a false story by reporter Greg Weston.

The CBC claimed there is a "secret" Conservative Party fund run by the PMO.

This is false.

The CBC claimed party funds are hidden from Elections Canada.

This is false.

All Conservative Party expenses are paid by one account, controlled by the

Stephen Harper's Airbus gets a new paint job. (Rainer Bexten/jetphotos.net)

Those are the new colours of Stephen Harper's plane.

As explained by the Toronto Star, the Royal Canadian Air Force CC-150 Polaris — the plane that transports the prime minister, the governor general, dignitaries and sometimes military personnel — has finally gotten its new paint job.

Nigel Wright

The Senate expense scandal took another twist on Thursday, when CBC News' Greg Weston revealed details about a secret million dollar Conservative Party fund that Nigel Wright had exclusive signing authority on.

CBC News has learned that Stephen Harper’s former chief of staff, Nigel Wright, had control of a secret fund in the Prime Minister’s Office when he cut the now infamous $90,000 "personal cheque" to disgraced Senator Mike Duffy.

Its existence has apparently been a closely guarded secret for the past seven years, even within the Prime Minister's Office. Only a few Conservative insiders know how the PMO cash stash has been spent.

Like all political party financing, there is little external oversight. The fund is completely off-limits to the auditor general and even Elections Canada, which monitors party donations but not expenses outside of an election period.

The story raises several questions.

1) Was it a secret or not?

The CBC News article uses the word "secret" 14 times.

As explained

During Question Period Wednesday afternoon, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair asked the prime minister this question:

"Was Pamela Wallin offered the same deal by the prime minister’s chief of staff that was offered to Mike Duffy?"

Mulcair was, of course referring the deal whereby Nigel Wright gifted Mike Duffy money so that he could pay back his improperly claimed living allowances.

[ Related: Senate scandal helping NDP leader Thomas Mulcair gets his groove back ]

Well, according to the Toronto Star, it looks like Wallin didn't need Wright's money:

Pamela Wallin has a lucrative life outside politics, where she has been entitled to roughly $1 million in fees and stock options for her role on corporate boards since being appointed to the Senate.

The Star notes that Wallin has sat on such boards as Porter Airlines, Oil Sands Quest Inc. and CTVglobemedia since joining the Senate in 2009.

The article with details about her earnings can be found here.

[ Related: Senate expense scandal isn’t going away any

Peter MacKayAt the Conservative Party policy convention later this month in Calgary, a faction of Tory members will propose — for the fifth time in the past decade — to change the party leadership race rules so that it's a one-member one-vote system.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay told the National Post, that if that happens, he might consider calling it quits.

"People would leave the party," he said.

"I’d think about it. It would be a very different party with a very different future."

The current leadership rules — designed when the Alliance Party and the Progressive Conservatives merged — assign 100 'points' to each riding regardless of how many members they actually have. MacKay, and others, feel this system is important to a pan-Canadian party so that a riding with huge numbers in Alberta, for example, couldn't swamp other areas of the country where membership numbers are much smaller.

"[The proposals] send a distinct message to Quebec, the North and Atlantic Canada, ‘thanks for coming out but your

In what might be another hit to the Conservative brand, Brent Rathgeber has resigned from the Tory caucus.

The maverick backbench MP made the announcement via a series of tweets on Wednesday night, after his Conservative colleagues watered down his private member's bill — Bill C-461 — meant to shine a light on public sector salaries.

Not a single CPC MP speaks in favour of gutting C-461; but all 7 voted in favour! #c461 #cdndpoli

— Brent Rathgeber, MP (@brentrathgeber) June 5, 2013

Backbencher 'very disappointed' after government MPs amend disclosure bill soa.li/AwCWKml #cdnpoli #461 — Brent Rathgeber, MP (@brentrathgeber) June 6, 2013

I just notifed the Board of Directors of the Edm-St. Albert CPC Association and the Speaker that I have resigned from the CPC Caucus.

— Brent Rathgeber, MP (@brentrathgeber) June 6, 2013

My decision to resign from the CPC Caucus is because of the Government's lack of commitment to transparency and open government. — Brent Rathgeber, MP (@brentrathgeber) June 6,

Christy Clark to run in byelection in Westside-KelownaShe lives almost 400 kilometres away, but Christy Clark will parachute herself into a provincial byelection in the riding of Westside-Kelowna.

Clark made the announcement, on Wednesday in Kelowna, with Ben Stewart, the MLA who is giving up his seat so that the premier can be in the legislature.

"I want to thank you Ben, you've put needs of our province first," she said.

"I'm humbled by your act of character."

[ Related: B.C. Premier Christy Clark eligible for severance pay ]

Last month, Clark's Liberals won the provincial election, but she failed to win her seat in Vancouver-Point Grey. As a result, she had to coerce one of her MLAs to step aside.

While reports from earlier this week suggested that there wasn't any volunteers, Clark said Stewart was just "one of a number of MLAs who offered" their seats.

"Kelowna is a natural political home for me on the values that I believe in," the premier said, noting that she will have a second residence in Kelowna.

"This is the cradle of free