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Clement called on to resign

Industry Minister Tony Clement is under fire for taking part in a promotional video for a private company trying to rustle up business in China.

OTTAWA — Industry Minister Tony Clement is under fire for taking part in a promotional video for a private company trying to rustle up business in China.

Liberals and New Democrats are demanding Clement be fired for using his position to shill for a private enterprise.

And they asked the parliamentary ethics watchdog Thursday to investigate whether the minister broke conflict-of-interest rules or ministerial conduct guidelines.

But the government maintained Clement has done nothing wrong — he was simply trying to help a company in his riding, as all MPs have a duty to do.

The furor erupted following the revelation Clement took part in a 2008 promotional video for Lord and Partners Ltd., a company that produces environmentally friendly cleaning products. The company is based in Clement’s Ontario riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.