House of Commons remains ‘paralyzed’ as Conservatives push privilege debate

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lamented the House of Commons remains “paralyzed” Tuesday as his party extends a debate about turning government documents over to the RCMP.

Poilievre was referring to the delay in the government producing seven years’ worth of records related to the Sustainable Development Technologies Canada (SDTC) organization within 30 days.

The now-defunct organization, which was federally funded but at arm’s length from government, was found earlier this year to have broken conflict of interest rules and made “significant lapses” in managing public funds by the Auditor General of Canada. The Conservatives have taken to calling it a “green slush fund.”

If you’re already feeling lost, don’t worry. It’s a natural reaction to the political posturing that typically comes during the dying days of a minority parliament.

The debate over the release of the documents has ground business in the House of Commons to a halt for a week.

When asked why his party wouldn’t refer the issue to a Commons committee for study — miraculously curing Parliament of its paralysis — Poilievre said he wouldn’t let “corruption” slide so “Justin Trudeau can get on with his day.”

A House of Commons committee probe isn’t exactly sweeping an issue “under the rug,” as Poilievre charged, and is the likeliest outcome of the debate. In the meantime, however, the Conservatives can use the issue to lob accusations of corruption at the Liberal government.

Poilievre was absent during Question Period Tuesday, after being reprimanded by Speaker Greg Fergus for accusing Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly pandering to “Hamas supporters” and refusing to withdraw the comment.

But his deputy leader, Melissa Lantsman, pushed the government on the