The Liberal-dominated Commons ethics committee has struck down a bid by the opposition tol hold an investigation into the SNC-Lavalin affair.

(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Conservative ethics critic Peter Kent had drafted a motion to launch an inquiry, call both former cabinet ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott to testify by April 5 and do so freely.

”After Liberals on justice (committee) prematurely shut down their incomplete study, it became entirely appropriate for ethics (committee) to create a study of our own,” said Kent.

Toronto Beaches-East York Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who broke ranks to vote in favour of an NDP motion to call a public inquiry, opposes an ethics committee hearing at this time, calling it ”premature.”

The justice committee is still awaiting a written submission, texts and emails from Wilson-Raybould.

Erskine-Smith believes it makes sense to see what’s in her statement, how the justice committee responds to it.