Conservatives say Champagne avoiding committee study into Alto rail connection

OTTAWA — The Conservatives are accusing the Liberals of trying to block a committee from questioning Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne about his connection to the high-speed rail project.

Champagne’s partner Anne-Marie Gaudet is a vice-president at Alto, the Crown corporation responsible for the rail project that would connect Toronto and Quebec City.

Champagne says he recused himself from decisions involving Alto and implemented a conflict-of-interest screen.

Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett has called for the conflict of interest and ethics commissioner to investigate and has asked for the minister to appear at the ethics committee.