The logic is not immediately apparent but some opposition MPs are hailing today's non-meeting of the federal justice committee as "progress."

The committee chair, Conservative MP Art Hanger, walked out of the committee about five minutes after the meeting started. But at least this time he explained why.

Hanger has abruptly walked out of at least six previous committee meetings, which brings them to a screeching halt.

The reason for the stalemate is the so-called Cadman affair — allegations that senior members of the Conservative party offered the late Independent MP Chuck Cadman a life insurance policy if he agreed to vote against the previous Liberal government in 2005 and bring it down.

The charge, made in a recent biography of Cadman, is denied by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other leading Conservatives but supported by Cadman's widow and daughter.

The Liberals and the Bloc Québéecois both want the committee to thoroughly examine the matter and have put forward a motion calling for an investigation.

Hanger, as chair, has repeatedly ruled the motion out of order. And, he said, since that was the only item on the agenda for today's meeting, he ended it.

Hanger says the committee won't meet again until the opposition agrees to withdraw the motion and move on — something the Liberals and Bloc say they are, so far at least, not prepared to do.