As Mike Duffy took the witness stand for his third day of testimony in an Ottawa courtroom, the defence tried to paint a picture of a dutiful public figure who travelled across the country to listen to citizens鈥� concerns and educate them on policy. In doing so, the defence attempted to chip away at the Crown鈥檚 allegations of improper travel expenses.
Duffy has pleaded not guilty to 31 charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
Here are five things we learned from Duffy鈥檚 third day of testimony on Thursday:
Statement to court
In a brief statement ahead of his third day of testimony, Duffy said that some of his emotional responses on Wednesday were inappropriate, explaining that the day marked two years since his sister鈥檚 death. In his testimony Wednesday, when asked about charges related to travelling for funerals, the senator said, 鈥淚 am so fed up with this.鈥�
Duffy appeared to be in better spirits on Thursday.
After another hours-long round of testimony, defence lawyer Donald Bayne asked his client whether he was getting tired. Duffy replied no, and then cheekily referred to himself as a 鈥渕acho man.鈥�
鈥楩riend-raiser,鈥� dutiful senator
Duffy says he was brought on as a senator to 鈥渇riend-raise鈥� by expanding the Conservative voter base on his travels.
Duffy insisted that, at all times, he was travelling on public business in his capacity as a senator.
As a former journalist and TV personality, he was considered a high-profile Canadian, who gave third-party validation to the government, Duffy testified.
Duffy said he was lobbied on a wide range of issues, including putting pressure on North Korea for democratic reforms and expanding universal healthcare to the U.S. On Thursday, the defence submitted as evidence the business cards of people Duffy spoke with about public matters.
At public events, Duffy was there to listen and bring concerns back to Ottawa, he testified.
鈥淚 smiled, took notes. And listened,鈥� Duffy said.
Harper the 鈥榤arketing whiz鈥�
Duffy sarcastically referred to former prime minister Stephen Harper as the 鈥渕arketing whiz鈥� who nixed a public photo-op between Duffy and then-Conservative MP Gary Lunn in 2009.
Duffy has been accused of billing taxpayers for going to see his daughter鈥檚 play in B.C. However, Duffy said he travelled to the West Coast to attend a fair in order to help Lunn with his re-election bid. Duffy said it was a coincidence that his daughter鈥檚 play was on at the same time. When he returned to his hotel following the play, Duffy said, he had a message telling him not to attend the fair with Lunn. Duffy said he thinks the last-minute cancellation came from Harper, who may have thought Duffy would detract from Lunn.
Duffy insisted Thursday that if he wanted to see his kids, he could do so at 鈥渁ny time,鈥� and didn鈥檛 need to cloak his visits as business trips.
Speaking in relation to Lunn, Duffy also said on the stand that in the former MP鈥檚 Vancouver Island riding in 2008.
Dog show
Duffy also denied that he travelled to Peterborough, Ont. in 2010 for a dog show on the taxpayers鈥� dime, as the Crown has alleged. Duffy testified on Thursday that then-Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro invited him to the city to meet with a local Christian radio station in need of assistance. Duffy testified that he agreed to go so that he could lobby Del Mastro -- then parliamentary secretary to the heritage minister -- for money to repair a theatre in P.E.I. Once there, they visited the Peterborough dog show on Del Mastro鈥檚 suggestion. 鈥淲e are dog fanciers,鈥� Duffy said on the stand. He added that he was not aware of the dog show prior to the visit.
Health worries, grueling schedule
Duffy said he travels with his wife, who keeps him on schedule with his medications for diabetes, particularly when he鈥檚 in different time zones. When questioned in detail about a days-long trip to Western Canada, Duffy repeatedly said any public appearances he made were strictly 鈥渁s a senator鈥� and that he did not ever attempt to deceive the public when filing expenses.
With files from CTV's Katie Simpson
