MPs meet behind closed doors on how to publicize political expenses

OTTAWA – The Harper government has called an unusual closed-door meeting to discuss the need to shine a greater public light of the expenses of MPs and senators.

MPs from the Conservatives, NDP and Liberals are being called back briefly to Parliament Hill today from their summer recess for an in-camera meeting of the House of Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee.

The Conservatives called the meeting after the opposition parties continued to press an issue that has dogged the government all summer — the Senate expense scandal has highlighted the need for greater transparency around the reporting of all politicians’ expenses.

Serious expense problems of three one-time Conservative senators appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and one former Liberal have dominated federal politics in Ottawa.

An NDP motion that won unanimous approval in the dying hours of the last Parliament in June calls for a committee process to examine transparency reforms, including MP expenses.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is promising his MPs will post all their expenses in the same way cabinet ministers have since 2005.