Mr. Speaker, I have several questions for the member for Peterborough, who spoke about the Mulroney-Schreiber or Mulroney-Airbus affair just before oral question period.
Earlier, I asked the Prime Minister a question, and the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons answered. I also asked the member for South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale a question about when the Prime Minister would launch his public inquiry. On January 11, the Prime Minister said:
After reviewing the report and consulting Professor Johnston, the government has decided to convene a public inquiry once the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics has finished its hearings.
He did not mention the committee's work or its report; he said “hearings”. Our hearings ended this past Tuesday. Why did this government, in this case Mr. Del Mastro, announce earlier—