Yes, Virginia, there is a Mulroney Schreiber Inquiry!

Hot off the PMO presses:

PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES COMMISSIONER FOR INQUIRY INTO DEALINGS BETWEEN THE RIGHT HONOURABLE BRIAN MULRONEY AND KARLHEINZ SCHREIBER

June 12, 2008 Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of Mr. Justice Jeffrey J. Oliphant as a Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into certain allegations respecting business dealings between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney.

Mr. Justice Oliphant, Associate Chief Justice, Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba, has been appointed as Commissioner under Part 1 of the Inquiries Act, with all the powers set out in the Act, including the authority to hold hearings, summon witnesses and gather evidence needed to conduct the inquiry.

“The Government is acting on its commitment to establish a public inquiry into this matter,” said the Prime Minister. “A number of questions remain unanswered and it is in the public interest to investigate further and to find answers.”

As Commissioner of the Inquiry, Mr. Justice Oliphant’s mandate will be to investigate and report on the 17 questions raised by Professor David Johnston in his report to the Prime Minister of January 9, 2008. The report resulting from the Inquiry will be submitted to the Government on or before June 12, 2009.