OTTAWA — NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair misled Canadians when he said his party had received approval from the House of Commons to set up a satellite office in Montreal, new documents suggest.
The Huffington Post Canada has learned that the House of Commons administration, including Clerk Audrey O’Brien, believed from October 2011 until March 2014 that the NDP had set up a caucus bureau for its Quebec MPs in Ottawa, not in Montreal.
“At no point was the House Administration informed that the employees would be located in Montreal or that their work would be carried out in co-location with a political party’s offices,” documents given to MPs sitting on the Commons’ Procedure and House Affairs committee state.
At a March 24 press conference, Mulcair told reporters that the House of Commons had signed off on the satellite office.
“This is work that is completely allowed, that has been verified and validated,” he said.
In fact, the NDP staffers’ own employment forms said they worked in an Ottawa office, even though they were really living and working in Montreal.
Interim NDP Leader Nycole Turmel’s deputy chief of staff Jess Turk-Browne told two members of the House of Commons staff that the employees would be working for Quebec NDP MPs in Ottawa.
“Ms. Turk-Browne specified the employees would be working in Ottawa even though their home addresses are in Montreal,” the minutes of one October 2011 meeting state.
Mulcair and NDP MPs have been on defensive ever since a newspaper report noted that the party was using Parliamentary staff, paid for by taxpayers, to do caucus work in an office run by the party in Montreal.
There are similar satellite offices in Quebec City and Toronto and the party wanted to start one in Saskatoon.
However, MPs on the Board of Internal Economy, the all-party committee that administers the House of Commons, aren’t sure what those employees are doing in the satellite offices because the NDP is refusing to turn over documents.
HuffPost has learned that Turmel, now the party whip, wrote to the board stating the NDP won’t turn over any documents before Mulcair testifies at a Commons committee Thursday. The NDP wants assurances that any documents given to the board won’t find their way into the hands of MPs questioning their leader.
The board is holding a special meeting on Wednesday to try to get over the impasse.
“We are having problems getting information from them and they are not being very co-operative,” said a source who wasn’t authorized to speak about the matter publicly.
Mulcair is being forced to appear before the Procedure and House Affairs committee Thursday to explain the NDP’s use of taxpayer resources for partisan purposes.
On Monday he would not say whether the NDP had received approval from the Speaker or the Clerk to set up taxpayer-funded offices outside Ottawa.
“I’ll be glad to send that information along to you,” Mulcair responded when asked.
“You don’t know what the answer is?” HuffPost asked.
“I do know what the answer is,” Mulcair responded. “I’m going to be in front of the committee talking about it Thursday. I wouldn’t want to scoop that for you.”
Mulcair has repeatedly said his party “always followed the rules.” In April, when the board announced it would explicitly ban parliamentary staff from working in premises owned or leased by a political party, the NDP leader said the new rule was “proof” the New Democrats “were following the rules before.”
On Monday, Mulcair’s spokesman George Smith repeated the same line.
“Everything was set up following the rules in place at the time,” he said.
MPs are not allowed to take part or use their budget to support any activities that relate to the administration, organization and internal communication of political party. They can’t solicit contributions for that party or to take part in activities that support or oppose a political party or candidate during an election.
The Montreal office is “doing support work for caucus, which is allowed,” Mulcair said.
The nine employees working for the NDP Quebec caucus were to be paid a total of $503,036, documents show.
The NDP so far has refused to turn over any documents identifying where the satellite offices are located. Documents suggest the party has yet to provide job descriptions of the work those employees are doing, provide details of the cost-sharing agreement and information about what other Commons resources are being used, such as furniture and Blackberry devices.
But it’s not just the satellite offices that are under scrutiny.
The board is also studying whether the NDP abused its free mailing privileges when it sent out close to 2 million pieces of mail in 26 ridings where it has no MPs. That number included 385,619 pieces of mail in three ridings just before a by-election call. The letters praised Mulcair’s experience and attacked the Liberals and Conservatives for unethical behaviour.
MPs are specifically banned from using their offices to promote their political party, to fundraise or to support a candidate in an election.
HuffPost has learned that the board has been advised that the NDP mailings break the rules because they were partisan in nature.
If the board members agree with the findings, they can dock an MP’s budget or request the reimbursement from a member personally. Possible courses of action also include referring the matter to the House for discipline, taking legal action or referring the matter to authorities such as the RCMP.
The Huffington Post Canada has learned that the House of Commons administration, including Clerk Audrey O’Brien, believed from October 2011 until March 2014 that the NDP had set up a caucus bureau for its Quebec MPs in Ottawa, not in Montreal.
“At no point was the House Administration informed that the employees would be located in Montreal or that their work would be carried out in co-location with a political party’s offices,” documents given to MPs sitting on the Commons’ Procedure and House Affairs committee state.
At a March 24 press conference, Mulcair told reporters that the House of Commons had signed off on the satellite office.
“This is work that is completely allowed, that has been verified and validated,” he said.
In fact, the NDP staffers’ own employment forms said they worked in an Ottawa office, even though they were really living and working in Montreal.
Interim NDP Leader Nycole Turmel’s deputy chief of staff Jess Turk-Browne told two members of the House of Commons staff that the employees would be working for Quebec NDP MPs in Ottawa.
“Ms. Turk-Browne specified the employees would be working in Ottawa even though their home addresses are in Montreal,” the minutes of one October 2011 meeting state.
Mulcair and NDP MPs have been on defensive ever since a newspaper report noted that the party was using Parliamentary staff, paid for by taxpayers, to do caucus work in an office run by the party in Montreal.
There are similar satellite offices in Quebec City and Toronto and the party wanted to start one in Saskatoon.
However, MPs on the Board of Internal Economy, the all-party committee that administers the House of Commons, aren’t sure what those employees are doing in the satellite offices because the NDP is refusing to turn over documents.
HuffPost has learned that Turmel, now the party whip, wrote to the board stating the NDP won’t turn over any documents before Mulcair testifies at a Commons committee Thursday. The NDP wants assurances that any documents given to the board won’t find their way into the hands of MPs questioning their leader.
The board is holding a special meeting on Wednesday to try to get over the impasse.
“We are having problems getting information from them and they are not being very co-operative,” said a source who wasn’t authorized to speak about the matter publicly.
Mulcair is being forced to appear before the Procedure and House Affairs committee Thursday to explain the NDP’s use of taxpayer resources for partisan purposes.
On Monday he would not say whether the NDP had received approval from the Speaker or the Clerk to set up taxpayer-funded offices outside Ottawa.
“I’ll be glad to send that information along to you,” Mulcair responded when asked.
“You don’t know what the answer is?” HuffPost asked.
“I do know what the answer is,” Mulcair responded. “I’m going to be in front of the committee talking about it Thursday. I wouldn’t want to scoop that for you.”
Mulcair has repeatedly said his party “always followed the rules.” In April, when the board announced it would explicitly ban parliamentary staff from working in premises owned or leased by a political party, the NDP leader said the new rule was “proof” the New Democrats “were following the rules before.”
On Monday, Mulcair’s spokesman George Smith repeated the same line.
“Everything was set up following the rules in place at the time,” he said.
MPs are not allowed to take part or use their budget to support any activities that relate to the administration, organization and internal communication of political party. They can’t solicit contributions for that party or to take part in activities that support or oppose a political party or candidate during an election.
The Montreal office is “doing support work for caucus, which is allowed,” Mulcair said.
The nine employees working for the NDP Quebec caucus were to be paid a total of $503,036, documents show.
The NDP so far has refused to turn over any documents identifying where the satellite offices are located. Documents suggest the party has yet to provide job descriptions of the work those employees are doing, provide details of the cost-sharing agreement and information about what other Commons resources are being used, such as furniture and Blackberry devices.
But it’s not just the satellite offices that are under scrutiny.
The board is also studying whether the NDP abused its free mailing privileges when it sent out close to 2 million pieces of mail in 26 ridings where it has no MPs. That number included 385,619 pieces of mail in three ridings just before a by-election call. The letters praised Mulcair’s experience and attacked the Liberals and Conservatives for unethical behaviour.
MPs are specifically banned from using their offices to promote their political party, to fundraise or to support a candidate in an election.
HuffPost has learned that the board has been advised that the NDP mailings break the rules because they were partisan in nature.
If the board members agree with the findings, they can dock an MP’s budget or request the reimbursement from a member personally. Possible courses of action also include referring the matter to the House for discipline, taking legal action or referring the matter to authorities such as the RCMP.