A pitched battle has begun in Canada’s Parliament with the official opposition New Democratic Party members vowing to fight charges they improperly used free mailing privileges.
Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) are allowed to use the mail without charge to communicate with their constituents, but not for partisan party purposes. Yesterday, Parliament’s Board of Internal Economy said NDP MPs broke the rule and ordered them to repay $36,000 to the House of Commons and another $1.13 million to the nation’s postal service.
NDP to fight board findings in court
The NDP rejected the board’s findings calling it a “kangaroo court” dominated by the members of the Conservative Party who, with the Liberals, ganged up in secret hearings to discredit New Democrats. The NDP vows to fight the matter in court and enlisted the help of a prominent constitutional lawyer, Julius Grey who called the board’s action “a direct assault on the basic principles of the Constitution.”
Whatever the outcome, Liberals and Conservatives have succeeded in eroding the carefully nurtured reputation of the NDP as an ethical party. It looks like it’s going to be an ugly run-up to federal elections in 2015.
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