Mr. Speaker, following the question put to me on that occasion by the hon. member, the Department of Justice organized and then published a set of procedures governing section 690 applications, making it clear to applicants what was required of them and also making clear the steps that would be followed inside justice in processing such applications. We have followed that procedure since and I think there has been a real improvement in the way they have been dealt with.
I am very much aware that these applications have to be dealt with as quickly as possible. We are talking about people who are in prison, for the most part. At the same time, it is a personal responsibility of mine to read the file, to review the submissions and to come to my own independent judgment not only about what is to be done but the reasons for doing it because of the value of precedent these cases set.
We do the best we can with the resources available. I will provide the hon. member with a copy of the guidelines or the procedure we published, and I know he will have a continuing interest in these matters.