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EDMONTON – The chairwoman of an Alberta legislature committee tasked with improving ethics in politics has stepped aside temporarily over allegations of favouritism and backroom dealing.

Jessica Littlewood removed herself from Monday’s meeting of the committee, but says she expects to stay in the job.

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Littlewood has often found herself casting tie-breaking decisions in favour of the New Democrats, who have the same number of members on the panel as the opposition.

Progressive Conservative MLA Richard Starke accused her of going outside her impartial role as chairwoman to try to broker a back-channel deal with him on issues before the committee.

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Littlewood, who says she did nothing wrong, was replaced by another NDP backbencher, Heather Sweet.

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Sweet told the committee she does not have a problem with backroom talks, leading opposition members to say they can’t trust her in the job.