Madam Speaker, on January 20, in answer to a question asked by the hon. member for Saint-Hubert, the Prime Minister said in this House that the whole issue of the action brought by the Minister of National Revenue against the federal government of Canada should be settled once and for all.
However, following question period, the Minister of National Revenue made a statement to the media, outside this House, as reported on Page B11 of the January 20 issue of The Gazette , and I quote:
"Obviously I am not the one who can terminate an appeal against a victory of mine in the court. The person who appealed has to do that".
The following day, on January 21, during question period, I asked the Prime Minister if the Minister of National Revenue was going to abandon the proceedings before the Federal Court-Trial Division, which the Crown had appealed. The prime minister told me that the Minister of National Revenue would not be getting any settlement from the government.
I find particularly strange that neither the Prime Minister, nor the Minister of Justice, nor the Minister of National Revenue informed the House that the appeal of the lower court's decision had been discontinued.
My question is really very simple. Is there, still today, before any court whatsoever, some kind of proceedings involving the Minister of National Revenue and the federal government of Canada?
Given the openness the Prime Minister once promised us, I should be able to get a short and concise answer to my question. Could the Prime Minister, the Solicitor General or the minister, who is in the House, confirm that the Minister of National Revenue has withdrawn his action, and if not, if someone intends to ask the minister to fully withdraw his action? In case the minister answers himself, I would like to know if the complete withdrawal papers were tabled.