OTTAWA — Nigel Wright, who served as chief of staff to former prime minister Stephen Harper, has died at 62, according to Onyx Corporation, where he worked for most of his adult life.

Wright worked for Harper from 2010 to 2013 and found himself ensnared in a Senate expense scandal when it was revealed that he had personally re-paid $90,000 in expense claims to Mike Duffy, a Conservative senator at the time.

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our cherished colleague and friend, Nigel,” said Bobby Le Blanc, the president and CEO of Onyx Corporation in a statement. “He was the consummate gentleman who set the standard for professionalism.

Tributes to Wright were quick to pour in on social media, including from several Harper veterans.

Senior Harper policy advisor Ken Boessenk

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