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“They’ve seen what appears to be some pretty flagrant abuses in the Senate with tax dollars and I think the public is rightfully outraged.”

NDP and Liberal committee members concurred.

“Of course the public is outraged by the Duffy and Wallin affairs and all the scandals that have been happening to senators and some MPs as well,” said New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen.

“If you allow the prime minister to change the channel, he’ll just slip under the rug on this one.”

An NDP motion that won unanimous approval in the dying hours of the last Parliament in June called for a committee process to examine transparency reforms, including MP expenses.

As he entered the meeting room, Cullen said he would call for the meeting to be opened so the debate could take place “in the full light of the public.”

Moments after he spoke to reporters, the doors of the meeting room were thrown open.

Lukiwski said after the committee had adjourned that members voted unanimously to support Cullen’s motion.

The sudden show of openness should not have been surprising given that the Conservatives have been dogged by the issue all summer.

Serious expense problems of three one-time Conservative senators — Duffy, Wallin and Patrick Brazeau — appointed by Harper and one former Liberal, Mac Harb, have dominated federal politics in Ottawa.

“You’d have to be deaf not to hear the response that we’re getting from our constituents,” said Liberal committee member Kevin Lamoureux.

But Lamoureux said he was disappointed by Sunday’s outcome. He said the time to study the matter had long past, and that his party is taking concrete steps towards transparency in the immediate future.

He said that Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau would reveal the details next week of his promise that all of his MPs will post all their expenses in the same way cabinet ministers have since 2005.