Tories drop opposition MPs from prime minister's volunteer awards guest list
OTTAWA - Newly released documents suggest opposition MPs were dropped from the guest list for a December awards ceremony on Parliament Hill honouring volunteers from across the country.
Stephen Harper himself spoke at the Prime Minister's Volunteer Awards on Dec. 14 and had his photo taken with the 16 recipients.
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the Human Resources Department originally drew up a guest list that included seven opposition MPs from the ridings of some of the recipients.
But on the day of the event, only Conservative ministers and MPs attended, along with the volunteers and their families.
New Democrat MP Andrew Cash says this kind of ceremony should be a non-partisan event.
A spokeswoman for Human Resources Minister Diane Finley noted the event was on Parliament Hill, and any MP was welcome to attend.
