General

MPs: Conservative government should be found in contempt of Parliament

Move could trigger a spring election and non-confidence motion

In an unprecedented move, a committee of MPs decided Stephen Harper’s Conservative government should be found in contempt of Parliament today. The move could trigger a non-confidence motion and a spring election. After a morning spent hashing out a draft report and making a series of amendments, the procedure and house affairs committee said the government is in contempt over its refusal to fully disclose the costs associated with its tough-on-crime agenda, corporate tax cuts and plans to purchase stealth fighter jets. A formal vote is likely Thursday, though the government could try to delay it since Conservative MPs on the committee did not support the finding. They plan to produce a dissenting report. The committee is separately considering a possible contempt citation against International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda for misleading Parliament.

CBC News

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