By Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - New Democrat MPs are spurning the chance to get privileged access to Olympic events at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

NDP Leader Jack Layton announced Wednesday that his party will return the 65 tickets that have been made available for purchase by the party's MPs.

He urged other parties to do the same.

"You know, these tickets are being sought after by Canadians and I think that members of Parliament shouldn't be jumping in line in front of ordinary Canadians who'd love to participate," Layton said.

Layton said 750 tickets have been made available for purchase by MPs and senators: approximately 350 for Conservatives, 240 for Liberals, 90 for the Bloc Quebecois and 65 for the NDP.

Gary Lunn, minister of state for sports, said the federal government was originally given "a modest amount" of tickets - 2,500 -to distribute. But he said it has already returned 1,000 of them and will be returning more, which will go into the pool for public sale.

He argued that previous governments have given free tickets to parliamentarians but this time they'll have to pay for the privilege.

He defended the practice, saying MPs and senators "are leaders in their communities."

Lunn said some of the tickets are also intended for use by officials with the international trade and foreign affairs departments and the Canadian Tourism Commission, who will use the Games to showcase Canada to potential investors.

"So those are very, very good business opportunities that we're also using some of those tickets for as well."

He said the tickets are for a "cross-section of all events" and were distributed to MPs on the basis of each party's representation in the Commons.

Liberal House leader Ralph Goodale said he personally won't purchase tickets through the government. But he said his party hasn't taken a stand on the issue as yet.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said he was unaware that his MPs were entitled to purchase tickets through the government.

"We'll give them to Prince Charles," the anti-monarchist quipped.

"He'll be ski jumping. He's got very good attributes to do so."