Commissioner Oliphant Appoints Legal Counsel

Ottawa July 15, 2008- Mr. Justice Jeffrey J. Oliphant, Commissioner of the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Allegations Respecting Business Dealings Between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, announced today the appointment of Legal Counsel for the Commission. Richard Wolson, Q.C. has been appointed Lead Commission Counsel; Nancy Brooks and Evan Roitenberg have been appointed Commission Counsel. The appointments take effect immediately.

Richard Wolson, Q.C. Lead Commission Counsel, is a founding member and partner of the firm of Gindin, Wolson, Simmonds, Roitenberg in 1995 where he presently practices. He has previously served as Commission Counsel in the Sophonow Inquiry and acted as counsel to parties in the Monnin Inquiry and Driskell Inquiry.

Nancy Brooks, Commission Counsel, is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP where she practices public law and commercial litigation. Nancy has acted as counsel to several inquiry bodies and administrative tribunals. Nancy served as Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Beverley McLachlin P.C. from 2004-2007.

Evan Roitenberg, Commission Counsel, is the President of the Manitoba Criminal Trial Lawyers Association; Board Member of the Canadian Council of Criminal Defence Lawyers; member of the Manitoba Criminal Justice Committee; member of the Tariff Review Committee with Legal Aid Manitoba; and a past Co-Chair of the Criminal Justice Subsection of the Manitoba Bar Association.

Mr. Justice Jeffrey J. Oliphant, Associate Chief Justice, Court of Queen’s Bench for Manitoba, was appointed on June 12, 2008 as a Commissioner to conduct an inquiry into certain allegations respecting business dealings between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney. The appointment was made 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. 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.

For further information, please contact:
Kate Murphy
McLoughlin Media, Ottawa ON
T. 613.230.9235
F. 613.230.2630
kate@ceo.tv
After hours: text: 613.796.3310