Mr. Speaker, it is notable that the Solicitor General was not allowed to answer that question. On May 6, 1999 the ethics counsellor told the industry committee, “if there's any question that comes up on a minister's office or the minister, the Prime Minister will discuss this with me in advance”. Yesterday the Prime Minister said he had not talked to the ethics counsellor about the investigation of the Solicitor General.
Why did the Prime Minister make an exception to his rule in the case of the Solicitor General? Did Percy Downe or anyone else speak to the ethics counsellor on this matter on the Prime Minister's behalf?