Jacques Gourde on Questions on the Order Paper

Mr. Speaker, with respect to parts (a) and (b) of the question, the Government welcomes the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Allegations Respecting Business and Financial Dealings between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Hon. Brian Mulroney. As noted in that report, the current conflict of interest and post-employment regime for public office holders in the Conflict of Interest Act is among the most rigorous of the jurisdictions scrutinized by the commission. The government is carefully reviewing the commission’s findings and recommendations to determine whether additional refinements to this regime would be appropriate. The government is also reviewing the commission’s findings and recommendations on the management of prime ministerial correspondence. With respect to part (c) of the question, as a matter of general policy the government does not disclose its litigation options or strategies