Globe and Mail: Cabinet bans political staffers from testifying at committees

[tuvor]

The Conservative cabinet has decided to ban its political staffers from appearing as witnesses before committees, setting up a new standoff between the government and opposition MPs just days after resolving the dispute over Afghan detainee documents.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s director of communications, Dimitri Soudas, explained the new policy Sunday during an appearance on CTV’s Question Period.

“Ministers are the ones who are accountable and answer to Parliament,” said Mr. Soudas, adding that a “government-wide” policy on the issue will be laid out on Tuesday.

Parliament returns Tuesday after a one-week break. On the last day the House sat, all parties reached a historic agreement to work together behind closed doors in deciding what secret information related to Canada’s treatment of Afghan detainees can be released to the public.

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cabinet-bans-political-staffers-from-testifying-at-committees/article1578703/