Vancouver MP not convinced retracted invite from Jagmeet Singh was honest mistake

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — What the NDP is calling a staff error, one Liberal MP is calling a cover-up indicative of a disturbing “pattern of behaviour.”

At issue is an invitation sent by the office of Jagmeet Singh, Burnaby-South MP and federal NDP leader.

The first version billed the event as a re-election campaign kickoff. A retraction was quickly issued and the second invitation describes the event as a constituency meet and greet.

“The purpose of this event, held at Mr. Singh’s taxpayer-funded constituency office, clearly and egregiously relates to the Member’s re-election,” says an open letter from Liberal MP Hedy Fry.

The letter says the retraction is tantamount to an admission of guilt.

“The NDP admitted as much when they altered their email to cover this fact up, while at the same time continuing with their planned event,” the letter reads.

A statement from the NDP says the initial email was an error and not evidence of misuse of resources.

“Our caucus and staff are always looking to respect the use of our parliamentary resources responsibly,” says a statement from Melanie Richer, the NDP’s director of communications.

It adds that the clerk of the house of commons has been notified.

RELATED: NDP event billed as campaign gathering with Singh result of staff error: party

Fry remains unconvinced, noting the NDP were ordered to repay $2.7 million in parliamentary funds by the House Board of Internal Economy in 2014. The NDP has been fighting this order in court ever since.

“It’s disturbing to see Mr. Singh using taxpayer dollars for his own reelection campaign,” she says.”This is not the first time, however, that’s what makes it disturbing”

– With files from The Canadian Press