Federal parties strike deal on Afghan detainee documents

MPs have struck an eleventh-hour deal to avert a parliamentary showdown — and possible snap election — over sensitive Afghan detainee documents, sources tell The Canadian Press.

The governing Conservatives and opposition parties have agreed to a process that would allow MPs to scrutinize the documents while protecting national security.

Final details of the agreement were not immediately available.

Commons Speaker Peter Milliken had given the parties until early this afternoon to find a compromise.

Failure to do so would have paved the way for a contempt of Parliament motion against the government.

That could have triggered the arrest of senior ministers, a court challenge or even an election.

The documents relate to allegations that prisoners were routinely tortured by Afghan authorities after being turned over by Canadian soldiers.

Opposition MPs banded together last December to order the government to produce all the relevant documents — in their original, uncensored form.

The Harper government steadfastly refused, citing its legal obligation to protect national security, the lives of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and international relations.

It did release thousands of heavily censored documents. It also engaged former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci to review the material and determine what could safely be disclosed without risking national security.

None of that satisfied the opposition parties, who sought a ruling from Milliken on the issue.

In a historic ruling late last month, the Speaker said Parliament’s right to know trumps the government’s right to maintain secrecy, even in matters of national security.

While he said MPs have an absolute right to scrutinize the documents, Milliken urged the parties to find a compromise that would protect national security. He gave them until May 11 to do so but later, at the request of all parties, granted a three-day extension.