Statement on behalf of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in response to
the final report of the Oliphant Inquiry

TORONTO, May 31 /CNW/ - The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, P.C., C.C., LL.D, today issued the following statement in response to the final report released earlier this afternoon by Commissioner Jeffrey Oliphant:

"While I have not yet had an opportunity to review Commissioner Oliphant's final report, I have been briefed on its contents.

I was satisfied, but not surprised, to learn that the Commissioner has concluded that I did not, as Prime Minister, apply pressure to or attempt to influence my ministers or other government officials with respect to the promotion or approval of the Bear Head Project. The evidence presented during the inquiry demonstrated that the allegations made against me to that effect were completely false.

I was also pleased that the Commissioner confirmed that no agreement with Mr. Schreiber was reached while I was Prime Minister of Canada and, moreover, that the agreement reached after I left office was exclusively international in scope. To that end, I understand that the Commissioner was satisfied that I did nothing domestically to promote Thyssen or its objectives after I left office.

I genuinely regret that my conduct after I left office gave rise to suspicions about the propriety of my personal business affairs as a private citizen. I will leave it to others to assess the full impact of these events. For now, I am merely grateful that this unfortunate chapter is over and that my family and I can move forward with our lives."

For further information: Robin Sears at [phone]