MPs are staying late on Parliament hill for an emergency debate about what's being billed as one of the largest food recalls in Canadian history.

Speaker Andrew Scheer agreed to a call by NDP and Liberal MPs for a special debate on the massive recall of tainted beef from an Alberta packing plant operated by XL Foods.

The government's critics are pointing the finger of blame directly at the Conservatives.

The Tories say forthcoming new legislation will help to buttress Canadian food safety measures.

But Liberal MP Frank Valeriote says that's too little, too late.  He's calling on the government to order a third-party audit of the resources the Canadian Food Inspection Agency needs to do its job.

E. coli was first detected at the XL plant on September 4th but it wasn't until 12 days later that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency began recalling its beef products.

The agency temporarily shut down the plant last Friday. 

Opposition MPs have been hammering away at the government all week over its handling of the situation.  They claim government funding cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have made the problem worse.

The government, meanwhile, insists it has actually increased the number of food inspectors and strengthened protections.    

To see the very latest X-L beef recall list, click here.

(The Canadian Press)