NDP won't back early Commons recess

The Opposition NDP says it will not cooperate with the government in any attempt to begin the House of Commons' summer recess early.

"The Tories are trying to pack up and avoid the hard questions," NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen said in a Thursday press conference on Parliament Hill with party whip Nycole Turmel.

The House of Commons was scheduled to rise on June 21 for the extended summer break, but the Conservatives have been using time allocation measures to speed through legislation, including the budget implementation bill, with an eye to a likely recess late next week.

The Conservatives will hold a party convention in the last week in June and there is speculation the prime minister wants to shuffle his cabinet before then.