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Harper Used To Say Nigel Wright Resigned -- Over And Over (VIDEO)

WATCH: Harper Used To Say Nigel Wright Resigned
The Huffington Post Canada
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new assertion that he "dismissed" his chief of staff for writing a $90,000 cheque to Senator Mike Duffy conflicts wildly with what he has said in the past.

Back in May, Harper suggested in a statement that it was difficult to see Nigel Wright resign from his office.

"It is with great regret that I have accepted the resignation of Nigel Wright as my Chief of Staff," Harper said. "I accept that Nigel believed he was acting in the public interest, but I understand the decision he has taken to resign. I want to thank Nigel for his tremendous contribution to our Government over the past two and a half years."

But on Monday, Harper sang a different tune during an interview with Halifax radio station News 95.7.

"I had a chief of staff who made an inappropriate payment to Mr. Duffy — he was dismissed," Harper said.

Wright left Harper's office on May 19.

Harper has long maintained that he only learned about the Wright-Duffy deal from news reports on May 15.

The prime minster has naturally been asked about Wright's exit many times in question period since last spring.

On Monday, YouTube user SleepyRobAnders posted a clip capturing some of the times the prime minister said Wright resigned from his office.

The clip is titled, "Stephen Harper supercut: Nigel Wright resigned."

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6 Things To Know About Nigel Wright
1) He probably took a BIG pay cut to work in the PMO(01 of15)
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It is believed that Wright was earning more than $2 million in salary and bonuses with Onex before becoming Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff. He made around $300,000 working on Parliament Hill. (credit:(CP))
2) He's unmarried(02 of15)
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Along with John Baird, Jason Kenney, and James Moore, Wright was one of four “single, white males” profiled in Maclean’s magazine in 2011 as holding immense power in Harper’s inner circle. Moore has since tied the knot, and Baird has since resigned. (credit:(CP))
3) He's a big runner(03 of15)
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Wright would apparently run a half-marathon each morning before starting a 14-hour work day at Onex.He kept that pace after he began working in Ottawa.He is said to be fond of telling a story of once being surrounded by several snarling dogs during an early morning run - a perfect metaphor for politics. (credit:(CP/The Globe and Mail))
4) Harper wasn’t the first PM he worked for(04 of15)
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Wright was a speechwriter and policy adviser to former prime minister Brian Mulroney. He was also policy co-ordinator for Kim Campbell's leadership campaign. (credit:(CP))
5) He almost became a priest(05 of15)
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Wright considered joining the Anglican priesthood as a young man. He is currently a subdeacon at St. Thomas’s Anglican Church in Toronto. (credit:(CP/The Globe and Mail))
6) He was the subject of a conflict of interest probe(06 of15)
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The federal ethics watchdog cleared Wright of conflict of interest allegations in January, 2013. Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson investigated Wright after it was reported he was lobbied on three occasions by Barrick Gold Corp, despite deep personal connections to the company’s founding family. Dawson found there was no violation of the Conflict of Interest Act. (credit:(CP))
'I Can't Figure Out Why The RCMP Would Have Anything To Do With This'(07 of15)
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Sen. Mike Duffy sent an email to Nigel Wright following a news story referencing a Senate matter.(Continued)
'I am Extremely Frustrated'(08 of15)
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'I Am No Longer 100% Sure We Can Deliver'(09 of15)
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On March 1, Duffy's lawyer Janice Payne emailed former PMO legal adviser Ben Perrin for an update.
'I Am Personally Covering Duffy's $90K...'(10 of15)
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In an March 8 email, Wright told Chris Woodcock the party would not be paying the Duffy cheque.
'But PM's Reputation – And That Of Sen Caucus – Going Down In Flames''(11 of15)
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On May 9, Wright responded to an email forwarded by Ray Novak from Sen. Linda Frum over concerns about protecting Tory senators.
'Chinese Water Torture'(12 of15)
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On page 26 of the documents, the RCMP note "On February 15, there were e-mail discussions within the PMO about the SenateRules committee and a proposed definition of residency, Nigel Wright e-mailed Benjamin Perrin."
'He Just Handed The Libs The Reason To Go To The Police'(13 of15)
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On page 44 of the documents, the RCMP detail an email exchange between Tory Senator Carolyn Stewart Olsen and PMO staffers Chris Woodcock and Patrick Rogers.
'We Are Good To Go From The PM'(14 of15)
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Page 32 of the documents details a Feb. 22 email from Nigel Wright to staffers in the PMO, including lawyer Benjamin Perrin.
'The PM Knows, In Broad Terms Only...'(15 of15)
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Page 45 of the documents details an email on May 14 from PMO staffer Andrew MacDougall to Nigel Wright and others. MacDougall says he has received inquiries from a journalist about Nigel Wright co-signing a loan for Senator Duffy to repay the money. Carl Vallee, PMO Press Secretary, writes:"Would the PM know the actual answer to the question? Just in case he asks us."

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