OTTAWA — Federal Conservatives have lodged a formal complaint with the House of Commons speaker over what they say are more misleading comments by Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.
Sajjan has offered a full apology for exaggerating his role in a major battle in Afghanistan in 2006 by claiming to have been the architect of Operation Medusa.
Defence Minister @HarjitSajjan apologizes for making false claims about his role in OP MEDUSA pic.twitter.com/s8AEswdoCc
— David Akin (@davidakin) May 1, 2017
But the Tories say Sajjan has shown a pattern of misleading Canadians.
They are asking Speaker Geoff Regan to rule on whether Sajjan misled MPs when he blamed the previous government for cutting the tax benefits available to Canadian soldiers in Kuwait.
They say documents tabled in the House of Commons show it was actually the Liberals who cut the tax benefits, which have since been reinstated.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Harjit Sajjan has his "full confidence" amid a growing controversy over the defence minister's exaggerated claim he was the "architect" of a major assault on the Taliban in 2006.
Interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose accused Sajjan of "stolen valour" and called on Trudeau to fire him for dishonouring himself and the military. "Will the prime minister remove the minister of defence?"
But Trudeau said Sajjan has served his country in a number of ways, as a police officer, a soldier and now as a cabinet minister. He made a mistake, apologized and took responsibility for it, the prime minister said.
Lot of glum looking faces on the #LPC benches as @HarjitSajjan apologizes to to the House.
— David Akin (@davidakin) May 1, 2017
Regan says he will wait for the government to respond before making a decision.
Yep, definitely @RonLiepert hollering at @HarjitSajjan “You’re a liar! A bald-faced liar!” #HOC #QP
— David Akin (@davidakin) May 1, 2017
So both the Conservatives and the NDP want Sajjan to resign. Expect to hear many more days of this.
— Tonda MacCharles (@TondaMacC) May 1, 2017
