Mr. Speaker, the hon. member could usefully take an hour or two out from spreading fear in order to look at the facts of this case. When he does so, he would discover that some months ago I appointed the former chief justice of Ontario, the Hon. Charles Dubin, a person whose experience and integrity in such matters is beyond question, to look into all of the circumstances surrounding the incident referred to by the hon. member.
That report was received and made public in August. It made clear that the Department of Justice well understands the importance of judicial independence and acts every day on its principles.
The Hon. Mr. Dubin also made recommendations concerning Mr. Thompson and as a result of the report, as the hon. member well knows, Ted Thompson voluntarily relinquished the position he held.
The fact of the matter is that the report established clearly that there was no interference by the Department of Justice with the independence of the Supreme Court.