The ethics scandal that’s been dogging the governing Liberal party had a new twist today, one that has the opposition fuming.
An all-party Justice Committee has been hearing testimony into allegations of undue political interference in a legal case of bribery and fraud against Montreal-based engineering giant, SNC Lavalin.
Justice Committee member, Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault speaks with reporters outside the committee room after the announcement saying the committee had heard enough testimony (via CBC)
Last week, the Liberal majority adjourned an emergency meeting of the committee within minutes of its start. The meeting was adjourned until today, and was to be held behind closed doors. This was condemned by opposition members while some media analysts speculated it was a move to deflect attention from the committee by holding the meeting on the same day as the budget was to be announced.
In what was seen as a very surprising move, the Liberal majority of the committee voted to end the hearings after only a short period of the meeting saying the committee had heard all it needed.
In a special press statement today, Andrew Scheer leader of the Conservative opposition called the move an “Affront to democracy and an attack on Parliament”
Deputy Conservative leader and MP, Lisa Raitt speaking to CBC saying the move is an effort to cover up the scandal and the Conservatives will delay the Liberal budget to make their objection to the shutdown of the Justice hearings clear to the public (CBC)
In that same announcement, Scheer said his party will now use whatever Parliamentary tools they have to delay the Liberals tabling of the budget which had been scheduled for just hours from now.
The New Democratic Party leader, Jasmeet Singh, also expressed dismay tweeting “this means no more testimony, no more answers that you deserve”
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