Opposition Attempts to Tie Harper’s Chief of Staff to “In-And-Out” Affair

Liberal and NDP MPs say Nigel Wright worked closely with four Tories accused of violating election laws in 2006.

While Stephen Harper’s government has been hit with a flurry of scandals in the past year, few of them have been traced back to the prime minister. The opposition is hoping to do just that with the “in-and-out” affair, which has seen four high-ranking Conservatives charged with shuffling money between local and federal campaign offices in order to evade spending limits in the 2006 election. In Question Period Tuesday, Michael Ignatieff accused Harper’s chief of staff Nigel Wright of being aware of the scheme because he was secretary of the Conservative fundraising body in 2006. The opposition called on the government to explain how much Wright knew, and passed a motion demanding the government sever ties with the four accused.