The parliamentary committee probing allegations of Afghan detainee abuse came to a sudden halt Tuesday, when Conservative MPs didn't show up for a special meeting.
The committee needs the presence of at least one government MP to continue, but no Conservatives attended.
"We're not going to play their partisan, political games on this," committee member Laurie Hawn, the parliamentary secretary for the defence minister, said on CTV's Power Play later in the day.
He said he had offered to hold the meeting by teleconference from his riding of Edmonton Centre, but that plan was apparently dismissed by opposition members.
However, New Democrat MP Paul Dewar, another committee member, said he was never told of the alternative plan and called it "ridiculous." He also said he never received a call from Hawn about his intentions.
"The chair of the committee called us together to have a meeting today. The Conservatives did not show up. That's the story here," he said on Power Play.
"The question is: Why is Mr. Hawn able to talk with us right now and do a media interview, but not show up and do his work as a parliamentarian?"
Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh said the meeting was "appropriately called" but the Conservatives didn't show up because they wanted to "frustrate the work of this committee."
Hawn said the committee hasn't been shut down -- just delayed until after the holidays.
"We haven't shut it down at all. We're simply saying that there was no urgency to have this particular meeting in Ottawa before Christmas," he said.
He noted that the committee would not have called any witnesses.
The Conservatives have dismissed calls for a public inquiry in the detainee issue, saying the parliamentary committee is the best way to examine allegations that Afghan prisoners were tortured by local officials, after being transferred by Canadian soldiers.
The Military Police Complaints Commissions has tried to conduct its own investigation into the matter, but the government has refused to hand over uncensored documents.
Peter Tinsley, the outgoing head of the MPCC, may not be replaced until late March. However, Hawn said his post would be filled by an intermediary "very shortly."
