Mike Duffy was on the witness stand for a fourth day of testimony at his criminal trial in Ottawa. On Friday, the embattled senator’s lawyer methodically explored travel claims for funerals and other events. Duffy also made mention of his plans to return to the Upper Chamber, and talked about his relationship with Gerald Donohue.

Return to Senate

On the stand, Duffy made mention of his plans to return to the Senate, touting his idea to cut “red tape” for Canadian businesses when bidding for contracts with large aerospace industries. Duffy, during testimony about a 2012 business meeting, said, when he returns to the senate, he plans to send along the non-partisan proposal to the minister in charge of the portfolio.

Duffy becomes emotional

Duffy became emotional when discussing attending the funeral for Clifton Stewart. Duffy is accused of fraudulently charging taxpayers to attend the 2011 funeral for Stewart, who was a spy during the Second World War, and according to Duffy, the basis for the character of James Bond. On the stand, Duffy choked up when he said that if his father had lived to 90, he imagined he would have been a lot like Stewart.

Duffy testified that when he attended funerals, it was in his capacity as a senator, and that he often conducted government business on the same trips. He testified that he would have meetings stacked up in order to make efficient use of time.

Pre-signed cheques

Duffy testified that he pre-signed claim forms for his assistants, in order to be efficient and ensure that bills were paid on time by his office. The practice was common, he said, among parliamentarians. Duffy told the court he also pre-signed personal cheques for his assistants, and noted an incident where he was nearly on the hook for $6,000 because a form was late.

'Activist senator'

Duffy said he understood the Senate rules to mean that he had full discretion over his budget and office staff hiring. Duffy said he “never” used his office budget to incur personal matters, and only used $1,000 of the $50,000 given to senators to set up their office. Rather than buy new office furniture or widescreen TVs, he "left" the extra money on the table, Duffy testified.

Duffy said he was told, right from his appointment, that while senators have flexibility and discretion on office funds, they must meet guidelines set out by the Senate standing committee.

Duffy also told the court that, at the start of his appointment, he felt that being an activist senator was an important part of the job, and that meant finding a public project he could devote himself to in his spare time.

Gerald Donohue, in Duffy’s words

When asked by Bayne who helped him set up his office, Duffy said he was given advice by other senators, staff, administrators and his longtime friend Gerald Donohue, who gave his own testimony at Duffy’s trial last month.

The Crown has alleged that Duffy set up a slush fund of nearly $65,000 with Donohue to pay for services the Senate would not cover.

On Friday, Duffy explained his relationship with Donohue, describing him as his No. 1 adviser.

He would look to Donohue for advice on how to tell then-prime minister Stephen Harper that he believed his policies were wrong and socially unjust, Duffy said. Donohue also worked with Duffy on an organ donation project, and helped with hiring. Duffy said he also consulted Donohue on how to fight senate administration that wanted to lay off staffers when the Senate wasn’t sitting.

The senator said Donohue received approximately $22,000 over several years. Duffy said he was satisfied with Donohue’s work, and that he could trust him with his life. He added Donohue served Canadians well.

Sounding defiant under questioning about false invoices and contracts, Duffy said that he never asked for -- and never received -- any money from Donohue or anyone else who worked for him.

With files from CTV's Katie Simpson