Liberal MP cites cost of Ottawa LRT inquiry during foreign interference filibuster
A Liberal MP cited the cost of the Ottawa light rail transit inquiry to argue against a public inquiry into foreign election interference on Thursday.
Ruby Sahota raised the $14.5-million price tag of the Ottawa LRT commission during a filibuster at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, where the government has come under increasing pressure over the foreign interference issue.
"The cost of just the public inquiry that's being done regarding the Ottawa LRT. The LRT. For Ottawa," she said with a laugh. "And that is a small issue in comparison to foreign interference.
"Maybe some Ottawa members of Parliament might disagree. They might think that that's the end-all, be-all issue of importance. But the LRT doesn't even run, from my knowledge of it, in all that large of a geography."
Sahota then cited the cost of the public inquiry: $14.5 million as of November, when the commission released its final report.
"I think that's going to make it hard for the Conservatives to sleep tonight. I really do. Because I know that they are fiscally responsible, or they at least claim to be fiscally responsible."
A filibuster is a tactic used to delay a vote, and means MPs often speak for extended periods of time. Sahota spoke for about 40 minutes.
The Ottawa LRT public inquiry found the project saw "egregious violations of the public trust" and was plagued by problems in leadership and "deliberate malfeasance."
Justice William Hourigan's 637-page report made 103 recommendations to fix the problems with the Confederation Line and ensure the same mistakes aren't made on other large projects.
The inquiry, which heard from more than 90 witnesses and scrutinized reams of documents, cost the province about $10 million and the city $4.5 million.
The Liberals have been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks over allegations, detailed in media reports citing unnamed security sources and highly classified documents, they did not act when warned that China was trying to interfere in the last two federal elections.
The Liberals have devoted several committee meetings this week to an extended filibuster as they face rising pressure from opposition parties.
Sahota represents Brampton North in the House of Commons. She was first elected in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.