Liberal and NDP MPs Stop Meeting on Winnipeg Lab, Alleging Procedural Errors

The initial meeting of a House of Commons committee to examine the release of the Winnipeg lab documents was abruptly halted by Liberal and NDP MPs due to procedural concerns, leading Tory MPs to accuse them of a “cover-up.”

On May 16, the House ethics committee convened, but before the first witness could testify, NDP MP Matthew Green raised a point of order, allowing him to address the committee.

Mr. Green criticized committee chair and Tory MP John Brassard for calling the meeting without consulting other members and for inviting witnesses not previously agreed upon in the motion establishing the study.

“I find this to be an authoritarian misuse of your position and deeply problematic,” said Mr. Green, with support from Liberal MPs.

“The way this committee was called is completely unusual,” added Liberal MP Lisa Hepfner.

Mr. Brassard defended his decision to invite Information Commissioner Caroline Maynard, who was not on the original witness list, as he believed she could contribute to the discussions. He noted that Ms. Maynard was leaving Canada until June 10 and the committee had an hour slot to fill.

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Mr. Green contested the chair’s decision to proceed with the meeting.

“You can challenge me all you want,” retorted Mr. Brassard. “The authority I have as chair to call a meeting, which I have done and provided reasons for, cannot be disputed. There is nothing to dispute.”

The committee’s study concerns the Liberal government’s denial of access to documents related to security breaches at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg involving scientists connected to the Chinese regime.

In due course, Mr. Brassard steered the ethics committee back on track, and Tory MP Michael Barrett inquired of Ms. Maynard the number of complaints her office had received regarding the Winnipeg lab documents. Ms. Maynard indicated her office had received 14 relevant complaints. Her office is tasked with investigating allegations of the government’s non-compliance with the Access to Information Act.

Mr. Barrett also questioned the Liberal government’s commitment to transparency, which was pledged early in its term. “In my view, there is more that can be done in terms of transparency,” stated Ms. Maynard.

In her opening remarks, the information commissioner informed MPs of a $700,000 budget shortfall and limited resources to support legal action against the government and process numerous complaints.

Ms. Maynard expressed her view that the government does not prioritize access to information and has requested legislative changes. “There hasn’t been much improvement.”

Following Mr. Barrett’s inquiries, Liberal MP Darren Fisher used his speaking turn to propose an adjournment of the meeting.

“This is not how a well-functioning committee should operate,” said Mr. Fisher, urging Mr. Brassard to allocate time next week to establish a work plan for the remainder of the year.

Mr. Fisher’s motion was backed by his Liberal colleagues and Mr. Green, while Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure voted against adjourning the meeting.

“You can witness… the Liberals not showing up for work today, yet shutting down a meeting with the NDP, their collaborator in the cover-up coalition,” remarked Mr. Barrett in a video posted online after the session.

The meeting occurred during constituency week, when MPs are in their districts and other House activities are paused. Three Tory MPs were present at the meeting in person, while others participated remotely.

Mr. Barrett claimed that the Liberal government impeded the release of the documents and is now “obstructing the hearings, silencing officials who are present to discuss the matter.”

The Liberal government defied House orders and took the former House speaker to court to avoid disclosing documents related to the Winnipeg lab.

In February, the documents were eventually made public after review by a temporary group of parliamentarians and impartial mediators.

The documents revealed that two scientists at the NML who were dismissed in 2021 were implicated in multiple security breaches locally and had undisclosed significant ties to Chinese regime entities.