Wajid Khan, the embattled former Liberal MP who recently crossed the floor to the Conservatives, will be heading out on another fact-finding mission in his role as special advisor on the Middle East.
Government sources told The Globe and Mail that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be sending Khan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, though there were no details on when he will be leaving.
The source, who asked to remain unnamed, also said Harper would be turning some of the recommendations from Khan's earlier trip to the region, into policy.
"[In] the report that was submitted by Wajid Khan, there was some good advice in there and you are likely to see some of that advice be reflected in what the government will be doing in the future," the official told The Globe.
Meanwhile, Khan has been at the centre of a storm of controversy as his former Liberal colleagues demand to see the report from his trip to Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, which cost taxpayers $13,000.
Khan, a former fighter pilot in the Pakistani air force, became Harper's special advisor on the Middle East and Central Asian affairs last June when he was a member of the opposition.
Interim Liberal leader Bill Graham agreed to the unusual appointment at the time, but many Liberals were uncomfortable with the new role.
The new Liberal leader, Stephane Dion, recently gave Khan an ultimatum, telling him he couldn't remain in Opposition and continue in his role as special advisor. Khan chose to defect to the Tories saying Dion forced him out by giving him the ultimatum.
At the time of his appointment last summer, Khan promised to share his findings and recommendations with MPs from all parties.
The fact the report still hasn't been made public has prompted some to question whether it exists at all.
"I want to hear the Prime Minister say, 'I received a written report.' I want him to say 'and then I will make it public.' And people will know what is in it and the speculation will stop," said Liberal Leader Stephane Dion during a news conference Thursday.
"It is not healthy to have speculation like that. What is in the report?" said Dion. "I will see it and then I will say there is a report. I didn't see it."
On Thursday, the government official confirmed to the Globe that he has "physically" seen a paper version of the report, although he has not read it.
The official said Harper has read the report.
Harper spokesman Dimitry Soudas was vague about who Khan met with during his first trip. He said Wednesday that Khan met with "government officials, stakeholders, NGOs, members of our own diplomatic corp'' during his tour.
Controversy has also arisen over the Mississauga MP's campaign financing. The Canadian Press reports that Khan's car dealership lent $180,000 to his former Liberal riding association, some of which helped finance his 2004 and 2006 election campaigns. His dealership lent another $86,000 directly to Khan's 2004 campaign, The Canadian Press reports.
Yesterday, Elections Canada said there was nothing illegal in those loans.
With files from The Canadian Press
