Independent MP Helena Guergis asks a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday June 3, 2010. The federal ethics watchdog will investigate Helena Guergis to determine if the former Conservative cabinet minister breached conflict-of-interest rules for MPs.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
Rahim Jaffer ignored a summons to testify before a Commons committee Wednesday to be at his wife's side while she was undergoing tests for a high-risk pregnancy.
"I truly believe that the right place for me was beside my wife," said Mr. Jaffer in a statement issued through his lawyer, Frank Addario.
He said he meant "no disrespect."
"I expect my wife's colleagues in the House and on the Government Operations committee would have done the same," he said.
Ms. Guergis, 41, is in the first trimester of the pregnancy; she has had difficulties before. The couple have no children.
The tests showed that Ms. Guergis is healthy and everything is fine with their baby.
"Helena and I have been trying to have a child for some time," wrote Mr. Jaffer. "It did not help that she has been under considerable stress as a result of her treatment by the Prime Minister and others."
Ms. Guergis, the former Harper cabinet minister and Tory MP for Simcoe-Grey, was fired from her cabinet post and then expelled from the Conservative caucus as a result of allegations that the Prime Minister or his office have not explained.
She has said that she is still trying to find out what led to her firing; she has asked the Prime Minister to make public the letter that was sent to the RCMP that triggered an investigation.
Mr. Jaffer said although the news was good, he and his wife are "drained" and will not speak to the media Wednesday.
Mr. Jaffer, meanwhile, was to be questioned by the committee - for the second time - over allegations of questionable lobbying practices.
He had offered to come at other dates but the committee was insistent that he appear Wednesday.
Mr. Jaffer, who was defeated in his Edmonton riding in the past election, noted that he wants to appear before the committee and not want to extend this process any further, referring to it as "tortuous for me and my family."
He later agreed to appear before the committee Thursday at 9 a.m. ET.