Duffy trial date set for next spring, bad news for Tories

The Mike Duffy trial date has been set and the timing couldn’t be worse for the Stephen Harper Conservatives.

On Tuesday morning, an Ontario Court Justice set aside 41 days, in April, May and June of next year, to hear the case against the suspended senator who has been charged with 31 counts of fraud and breach of trust, related to his expense claims.

Also at issue is a $90,000 payment, Duffy received from Nigel Wright, the prime minister’s former chief of staff.

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The case — which will be heard before a judge and not a jury — will be heard just months ahead of a legislated federal election date of October 19th.

While it’s unclear whether or not Harper will be forced to sit in the witness stand, many of his close aides may have to. The likes of of Nigel Wright, former Senate majority leader Marjory LeBreton, Conservative chief fundraiser Irving Gerstein and the PMO’s legal team will likely be called to testify.

Essentially, the trial could amount to three months of bad news stories about the PMO and their inner workings.

The trial date will also raise speculation about Harper potentially pulling the trigger on an early election.

In the spring, the Tories were planning to campaign on — and bask in — their $6.4 billion budget surplus.

Instead, they’ll be forced to re-live the senate expense scandal and have to answer questions — in both the House of Commons and on the pre-writ hustings — about why Duffy was chosen to be a Conservative senator from Prince Edward Island when he didn’t live their full-time.

One pundit, however, doesn’t think Harper will need to change course.

"Given that the trial will be a media circus, and bring all the scandal news back into the headlines, this won’t be a shining moment for the Conservative Party," Gerry Nicholls told Yahoo Canada News.

"But unless, it reveals new damaging evidence against the Prime Minister, it won’t be a game changer. No need for Harper to panic and call an early election."

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If found guilty, Duffy could face some serious penalties.

Recently, Joe Fontanta, the former mayor London, received a four month conditional sentence under house arrest and 18 months probation for uttering forged documents, fraud and breach of trust in relation to a 2005 incident when he, as a federal cabinet minister, is believed to have billed taxpayers $1,700 for his son’s wedding reception.

Senator Raymond Lavigne: In 2011, former Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne was convicted of fraud and breach of trust for alleged inflated mileage claims and for using Senate staff for personal chores like chopping down trees at his home. He served 6 months in jail and was ordered to pay $10,000 to a charity.

Moreover, according to the Canadian Press, the bribery charge regarding the $90,000 cheque from Mike Duffy, carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.

Duffy claims that he is innocent of all charges and says that he’s looking forward to defending himself in court.

(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press)

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