OTTAWA – New Democrats will use their opposition day motion Tuesday to initiate an immediate debate on the need for a public inquiry into the transfer of Afghan detainees.

“Peter Mackay has gone from not knowing Mr. Colvin, to demonizing him, to blaming respected bureaucrats and generals for filtering Colvin’s warnings,” says New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “The only thing made clear by Peter Mackay’s shifting defence is that we need a public inquiry to get to the truth.”

Peter MacKay first said he didn’t know who diplomat Richard Colvin was prior to the hearings held by the Military Police Complaints Commission. Then he said he may have received Mr. Colvin’s briefings but he didn’t read them. Then he reverted to saying the report didn’t make it to his desk. A month later, MacKay flip flopped again, saying he did receive the report. Las week, he turned to smearing Mr. Colvin’s reputation, accusing him of being a Taliban dupe. MacKay’s most recent defence has been to accuse senior diplomats and respected military generals of filtering out reports on abuses of detainees.

The government refused to cooperate with the Military Police Complaints Commission, forcing it to shut down. More recently, the government has refused to provide the relevant documents to the parliamentary special committee on Afghanistan, and intimidated witnesses from testifying. Their conduct has been so egregious that the committee filed a report with the Speaker of the House of Commons, citing a breach of privilege.

“A public inquiry is the only way we will find out the truth,” says Layton. “If the government has nothing to hide, then why won’t they call a public inquiry and settle it once and for all?”