OTTAWA - The Conservatives want the CBC to turn over its internal files for a Commons committee to review, potentially including information on journalistic sources.

Tory MPs on the Commons access committee say they should be able to take a look at documents the broadcaster refused to release under the Access to Information Act.

The committee is currently studying the CBC's record on access to information and its court fight with the information commissioner over documents it has withheld from release.

The public broadcaster has exemptions under the Act for records that deal with its journalistic, programming and creative activities.

The Conservative motion for the CBC to produce files on several access requests is likely to spur questions on the statutory independence of the broadcaster and the constitutionally protected freedom of the press.

The NDP are demanding a legal opinion be provided to the committee before any consideration of the Tory motion.

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