Ottawa MP and Environment Minister John Baird is scheduled to appear before a House of Commons committee to explain his role in the cancellation of a local light rail project.
The government operations committee which is examining the issue voted Tuesday to hear Baird's side of the story in two weeks.
In 2006, Baird - who was then president of the Treasury Board - held back $200 million in federal funding for light rail transit in the midst of Ottawa's municipal election.
The Liberals claim Baird politically interfered in municipal politics by suspending federal cash for the project.
Baird, however, says he acted to ensure taxpayers were getting value for their money.
Baird reviewed the light rail contract in October 2006 and said it provided a cancellation deadline in December.
He said the soon to be elected city council should be able to vote on the decision.
In recent advertisements on radio air waves, Baird called the north-south light rail project a "$1-billion boondoggle."
