Federal Environment Minister and Ottawa MP John Baird appeared before a House of Commons committee Tuesday to answer questions about his role in withholding $200 million in federal funding for a local light rail transit plan.

Baird told the committee he looked at the light rail contract during Ottawa's 2006 municipal campaign so he could find a clause to bail the City out of the agreement.

"That's the only reason I asked to see the contract and sure enough I hit the jackpot. It was exactly what I thought," Baird said.

"I was the minister of accountability," he told the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. "If I had the choice to be more accountable or less accountable, I opted for more."

Following Baird's decision to withhold federal funding, the newly-elected city council, led by current Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien, cancelled the contract and requested city staff to devise a new plan for mass transit.

The decision spawned a massive lawsuit, launched by a consortium of companies that successfully bid on the cancelled project.

The issue is now before the courts and could potentially cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

But Baird says reviewing the light rail contract was the right thing to do for taxpayers.

"There was a 60-day delay clause that allowed a new city council and the voters to have a say. I think allowing taxpayers a better voice in government decisions is very important," Baird said.

Opposition MPs who claim Baird's decision interfered in municipal politics had several questions for the Minister during his 75-minute appearance before the committee.

"How is it that you personally decided not to go ahead and grant the $200 million?" Bloc Quebecois MP Diane Bourgeois asked Baird in French.

"I can tell you, it was not my choice to decide when this came before the Board, it (came before the Board) when it was submitted," he responded.

Some political observers have contended Baird's decision was made to undermine the re-election campaign of former Ottawa mayor Bob Chiarelli who is also a long-time Liberal.

"In what role did you intervene?" asked NDP MP Charlie Angus. "As President of the Treasury Board or political minister for the City of Ottawa?"

Baird replied: "As Treasury Board President."

Liberal MP Mark Holland says while there were several projects on the table in other areas of the country, Baird did not treat them in a similar manner.

"There were 10 other such projects going on at the same time, including one in Toronto that was sole-sourced to Bombardier," said Holland. "Yet none of the other projects were treated in this way."

Opposition MPs sitting on the committee say they are not satisfied with Baird's answers and are now considering their next plan of action.

With a report from CTV's Chris Day