Conservative Parliamentary Secretary Dean Del Mastro rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday March 1, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
June 20, 2012 - 4:23 PM
OTTAWA - A Conservative MP under investigation by Elections Canada says he's unaware of reports that his family's employees were reimbursed for donations to his campaign.
Dean Del Mastro has been largely silent since court documents alleging his 2008 campaign broken financing rules were made public.
New allegations surfaced this week that a company owned by his cousin reimbursed its employees for contributions to his campaign.
Del Mastro wouldn't comment on the allegations, telling reporters he didn't know what they were talking about and that he sees many "silly stories" every day.
The federal Liberals want him brought before a parliamentary committee to explain the alleged infractions detailed in court documents.
They suggest Del Mastro's 2008 campaign is under investigation for overspending and forging receipts.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and no charges have been laid.
The New Democrats say the Elections Canada investigation should take precedence over calling Del Mastro to committee.
In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Del Mastro was again silent when Liberal MP Scott Andrews raised the issue in question period.
"The parliamentary secretary to the prime minister and to the minister of intergovernmental affairs is an expert in baseless smears against his opponents," Andrews said, referring to Del Mastro's Commons duties.
"However, when it comes time to take accountability for his own actions, the member disappears."
But Tory MP Pierre Poilievre, parliamentary secretary to the minister of transport, dismissed the questions.
"We all know why this member wants to drag his smears before a parliamentary committee," Poilievre said.
"It is because there he will have the same privilege that he has here, which is to make any allegations, however unproven and counterfactual, without ever having to prove them.
"That is a privilege to which most Canadians are not entitled and one he claimed he would give up late last week when he bragged that he was going to run outside and repeat his allegations, something he failed to do."
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012