It just went from bad to worse for Ruby Dhalla.

The Commons immigration committee is studying the subject of migrant workers and now wants her to appear before it.

Chair David Tilson, a Conservative MP from Orangeville, Ont., told reporters after question period today that the committee would be calling the Liberal MP and the two nannies, both foreign workers, who accuse her of mistreatment.

Chris Rands

Tilson says the committee has been planning to examine the issue of migrant workers for some time. "I can't help it if Miss Dhalla just happens to jump in on this issue as we are studying it."

Tilson hopes to have Magdalene Gordo and Richelyn Tongson appear before the committee as early as Tuesday next week.

It may be another week before Dhalla, who hasn't been seen on Parliament Hill for days now, is called to testify.

Tilson says, "We will give Miss Dhalla a chance to come and protect herself, no question we are going to do that."

Of course that will be before a committee room full of MPs, some of whom may want to make political hay at her expense.

For her part, Mississauga-based Dhalla released a statement today stating that a "transparent, third-party evaluation of the facts is required to clear my name."

She may not have had the immigration committee in mind, however. She has asked Mary Dawson, the Commons ethics commissioner to examine her case.

The ethics commissioner can only investigate matters that pertain to someone's role as an MP and has 30 days to respond to Dhalla's request.

— Chris Rands