A House of Commons committee intends to seek testimony from the federal ethics watchdog on rules regarding gifts, vacations and travel as controversy swirls around Prime Minister Justin Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 recent trip to Jamaica.

Members of Parliament on the Commons ethics committee agreed to invite interim commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein to testify at the earliest opportunity once the House comes back from a winter break at the end of the month.

A spokesperson for von Finckenstein says his office will facilitate a time for him to appear, and that he is 害羞草研究所渁lways available and responsive to the needs of Parliament.害羞草研究所�

The Opposition had pushed for a special meeting Wednesday to discuss a potential probe of Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 vacation.

Liberal MPs got on board with the idea of asking von Finckenstein to appear, so long as his testimony would include a detailed explanation of the travel rules that are laid out in the Conflict of Interest Act.

It害羞草研究所檚 important for people to see how the system works so they can maintain trust in their democratic institutions, said Liberal MP Mona Fortier.

Early this month, Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 office said the prime minister害羞草研究所檚 family was staying at a location owned by family friends at no cost, after earlier saying the family would cover the cost of their stay.

Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 office said he consulted with the ethics commissioner and the family would reimburse the public for the expense of travelling on a government plane.

害羞草研究所淟ike a lot of Canadian families, we went to stay with friends for the Christmas holidays. All the rules were followed,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said Wednesday in French during a news conference in New Brunswick.

Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett said everyone is entitled to a vacation, but the problem is the changing narrative coming from the Prime Minister害羞草研究所檚 Office.

害羞草研究所淭his is incredibly problematic,害羞草研究所� Barrett said.

He said he wants to know whether Trudeau misled von Finckenstein in seeking advice about the trip.

害羞草研究所淎s per standard practice, the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner was consulted prior to the travel to ensure that the rules were followed,害羞草研究所� a spokesperson for the prime minister, Mohammad Hussain, said in a statement last week.

害羞草研究所淎ny allegation that we would mislead the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is categorically false.害羞草研究所�

Barrett said he asked the acting commissioner害羞草研究所檚 office for its communications with Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 office about the trip, but his request was denied.

And rightfully so, Liberal MP Pam Damoff argued during a committee hearing Wednesday. Such conversations need to remain private so that politicians can feel comfortable when seeking advice, Damoff said.

The Conflict of Interest Act allows politicians to accept gifts and other advantages only from relatives or family friends with whom they have a well-documented close bond. Trudeau ran afoul of that rule when he was a guest of the Aga Khan in late 2016.

It害羞草研究所檚 time for the rules to change, New Democrats argue.

害羞草研究所淭he Liberals and Conservatives both point fingers at each other when they both get favours from their rich friends but then refuse to change the rules as it benefits both of them and the ultra-rich,害羞草研究所� NDP House leader Peter Julian said in a statement.

害羞草研究所淣ew Democrats want to see a review of the Conflict of Interest Act to actually crack down on corporate and lobbyist influence in politics, so it害羞草研究所檚 everyday Canadians who get ahead, not the ultra-wealthy.害羞草研究所�

Earlier this month, the National Post reported that Trudeau was staying at a luxury estate owned by his longtime friend Peter Green. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the information, and officials have declined to confirm where Trudeau was staying.

Liberal MPs said they weren害羞草研究所檛 opposed to the idea of inviting acting commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein to testify, so long as he explains how the travel rules in the law are supposed to work.

Any investigation demands a deeper understanding of the law to avoid damaging the public trust, Fortier said.

READ ALSO: Trudeau calls Aga Khan a friend, welcomes ethics commissioner害羞草研究所檚 questions

READ ALSO: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and family heading out on a B.C. vacation