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LONDON, Ont. — Stephen Harper tried to hammer home his economic message in London, Ont. on Wednesday and shift his campaign away from politically sensitive developments unfolding in Ottawa the Mike Duffy trial.
Harper started his morning at a question-and-answer session with Dan Kelly, president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
“I think our record is pretty solid in lowering taxes for small business,” Harper said.
The prime minister also took aim at opposition parties during the discussion.
“The other guys have consistently argued we should be massively increasing our spending levels … and we all know that will be paid for in terms of higher deficits, higher debt, higher taxes,” Harper said.
“You can either keep a low-tax, balanced budget situation we have with the Conservative party or go to options that are going to mean much higher taxes for small business and frankly much damage to our economy.”
Harper used his London stop to re-announce a commitment to cut red tape for small business and entrepreneurs.
The Conservatives promise to launch cross-country consultations on the reforms if they are re-elected on Oct. 19.
About a dozen protesters waited for Harper outside of the event, which was held in the London-Fanshawe riding currently held by the NDP’s Irene Mathyssen.
The Conservatives have been in damage-control mode after an Ottawa courtroom heard Benjamin Perrin, former lawyer for the Prime Minister’s Office, told police that insider Ray Novak was aware of the now infamous $90,000 repayment scheme.
Novak became Harper’s chief of staff after it became public Wright gave the money to Duffy to repay dubious expense claims.
Harper continues to maintain Duffy and Wright have been held accountable but he will not comment further on Novak’s role in the matter.
Novak, who is very close to the prime minister on a personal level, served as principal secretary before he became chief of staff.
“Obviously, as I’ve told you once again, I’m not going to discuss individual things before the court,” Harper said.
Harper would not say if he has discussed the matter with Novak in the last couple of days.
Last week, Conservative spokesman Kory Teneycke told reporters it was “unfathomable” Novak knew about the $90,000 payment, but Perrin’s statement to police contradicts that.
Harper is to attend a rally tonight in London before moving on to Toronto.
