OTTAWA – Tickets to the Olympics given to the federal New Democratic Party for distribution to MPs will be returned, Leader Jack Layton said today.

“These are much coveted tickets and our members don’t believe they should have priority access to them. We’ll join the line with everyone else,” said Layton.

Some 750 tickets were made available for purchase by Parliamentarians. Approximately 350 were given to Conservative MPs and Senators, 240 to the Liberals, 90 to the Bloc and 65 to New Democrats.

“I am urging the other parties to return their tickets as well,” said Layton.

"Parliamentarians should not be entitled to more than other Canadians. We’re here to serve our constituents, not elbow them aside for special privileges,” said New Democrat MP Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster), the party’s critic for the 2010 Winter Games.