Brampton-Springdale MP Ruby Dhalla speaks to reporters at a news conference at her constituency office in Brampton, Ont., on Friday. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

Embattled Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla is expected to appear Tuesday morning before a federal parliamentary committee examining allegations that foreign caregivers working at her family's home were mistreated.

The two live-in caregivers of Philippine origin who made the allegations are also expected to testify before the Standing Committee on Immigration and Citizenship from Toronto via video conference beginning at 9 a.m. ET.

The MP for Brampton-Springdale has denied the claims of Magdalene Gordo, 31, and Richelyn Tongson, 37, who say she withheld their passports and paid them only a fraction of the minimum wage when they worked for her family.

The two women say they were hired in early 2008 to care for Dhalla's mother in the family home in Mississauga, Ont. Dhalla's lawyer said last week it was Dhalla's brother who hired them.

Dhalla, who is expected to testify in Ottawa at 10 a.m., has also denied the allegations of a third caregiver, Lyle Alvarez, who says she was severely overworked and underpaid as well.

Labour minister to testify too

Earlier, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said provincial Labour Minister Peter Fonseca, who first heard the complaints against Dhalla, has agreed to appear before the committee in Ottawa at its request.

"If there's anything at all that we might do together, the federal and provincial governments, to provide more support, better protection to our live-in caregivers here in Ontario, then we welcome that opportunity, and Minister Fonseca looks forward to appearing there," McGuinty told the legislature.

McGuinty continues to defend Fonseca amid opposition demands that the labour minister resign for failing to investigate the complaints.

Fonseca was expected to speak Tuesday behind closed doors, but the committee was unable to accommodate him.

"I look forward to being able to present in front of that committee all that I've been hearing from live-in caregivers and what they've been able to share with me around a flawed and broken federal program," Fonseca said, adding that his testimony will not deal with specifics about Dhalla's case or anyone else's.

He has repeatedly tried to blame federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney for problems with the program that brings live-in caregivers to Canada.

"I've always wanted to stay focused on what we can do for these vulnerable workers and ensure that protections are in place there for them," Fonseca said.

Caregivers talked to ministers

Gordo and Tongson told their stories to Fonseca and Education Minister Kathleen Wynne during a roundtable discussion last month and were advised to call a toll-free number that wasn't operational until the following week.

Wynne has also been asked to speak to the committee but has declined, calling it a labour issue.

In his first day back in the legislature since the controversy broke last Wednesday, McGuinty says Fonseca and Wynne did the right thing by informing the women of their rights.

There is no word yet on whether Wynne will have to appear before the committee.

The Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats have accused the two ministers of staying quiet because the complaints involved a prominent Liberal MP and have repeatedly asked for Fonseca's resignation.