Taxpayers to foot the bill for Harper’s high-powered legal defence in Guergis case

The Conservative government has hired a private-sector lawyer at taxpayers expense, to represent Stephen Harper and three other government officials being sued for defamation by former Tory cabinet minister Helena Guergis.

According to a story by PostMedia News, the government could have appointed a salaried staff lawyer from the Department of Justice to handle the case, but chose instead to reach into the private sector and hired Robert Staley, one of Canada's leading litigators.

Andrew MacDougall, Harper's spokesman, said Tuesday that the outside counsel is being paid the standard rate that would be paid to a Department of Justice lawyer.

He said part of the claim involves issues related to "membership in cabinet" and that this "is outside of the areas DoJ counsel would typically be involved in."

NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus, however, isn't convinced. He told PostMedia that he finds the hire troubling.

"It raises a flag with me," he said Tuesday, noting there are already justice department lawyers on staff with the required expertise.

"If we have competent, very qualified lawyers able to do it who are already on staff, why are we going to the private sector for outside lawyers? And can we be assured that they are not bringing in high-priced lawyers that are going to ding the taxpayer more?"

Guergis is suing Harper, Guy Giorno, Harper's former chief of staff; Raymond Novak, the prime minister's principal secretary; Labor Minister Lisa Raitt; and Conservative MP Shelly Glover, along with several others for $1.3 million.

In the statement of claim obtained by CBC News, Guergis alleges that in 2010, the defendants entered into a conspiracy with each other or with some of the other co-defendants, to "engage in unlawful acts in order to remove or justify her removal from the Conservative caucus."

Guergis, who was minister of state for the status of women, was booted out of caucus in April of 2010 when Harper announced that his office had become aware of "serious allegations" regarding her conduct which he was forwarding to the RCMP and Ethics Commissioner.

Those unproven allegations were apparently related to drug use, fraud, extortion and association with prostitutes.

Guergis ran as an independent in the May 2011 federal election but failed to retain her seat.

Update:

CBC News is reporting, that lawyers for the parties involved in the case are meeting Wednesday at a Ottawa courthouse to discuss procedural matters with the case.

Also, on Wednesday, Giorno filed a motion to dismiss which claims the former Conservative MP's "conspiracy theory is utterly devoid of fact."