NDP leader Thomas Mulcair summoned by committee to explain office staffing

OTTAWA (NEWS1130) – New Democrat Leader Thomas Mulcair is used to grilling the prime minister in the House of Commons on a range of topics.

Today, however, it will be Mulcair on the hot seat as a Commons committee asks him about the NDP’s use of taxpayer resources for office staffing.

The Conservatives — and some Liberals — claim the NDP used satellite offices in Montreal and elsewhere for partisan purposes, at taxpayer expense.

Mulcair insists his party has followed all the necessary rules and has done nothing wrong.

The standing committee on procedure and house affairs has demanded that the New Democrats also provide more documentation, including a lease agreement and floor plan for an office in Montreal.

Here are some other events taking place around Parliament Hill:

— CFL commissioner Mark Cohon will speak at the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce’s mayor’s breakfast;

— A day after losing the battle over Ottawa’s security certificate program, which allows the government to deport non-Canadians deemed to be linked to terrorist groups, the legal team representing Mohamed Harkat will talk about Wednesday’s Supreme Court of Canada ruling;

— The lawyer for Ottawa resident Hassan Diab, the target of an extradition order in connection with a 1980 attack on a Quebec synagogue, holds a news conference to react to the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision on his bid to stay in Canada;

— The Supreme Court will hear the Grassy Narrows case for treaty rights and against clearcut logging;

— The Canadian Taxpayers Federation holds its 16th annual Gas Tax Honesty Day with the release of a report containing updated calculations on gas taxes;

— Sen. Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis holds a news conference to discuss Canada’s continued commitment to improving maternal, newborn and child health in the developing world;

— And the Conference Board of Canada will release its report card on how Canada’s economy performed in 2013.