The investigations: 2007-2009
From an ethics committee probe to a public inquiry
March 23, 2007: German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber files lawsuit against former prime minister Brian Mulroney for failing to provide services he promised in exchange for $300,000 cash paid in 1993-1994. Read story.
Aug. 6, 2007: Ontario's Court of Appeal dismisses request from Schreiber for a judicial review of a previous decision relating to his 2004 extradition order.
Oct. 4, 2007: Imprisoned at Toronto West Detention Centre, Schreiber comes within minutes of being put on a plane to Germany by the RCMP, but his lawyers successfully submit an application for an emergency court injunction.
Nov. 8, 2007: Schreiber files an affidavit alleging he negotiated a $300,000 lobbying deal with Mulroney at the prime minister's Harrington Lake retreat in Quebec on June 23, 1993 — two days before Mulroney stepped down as prime minister. Read story.
Nov. 9, 2007: Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces an independent review of new allegations by Schreiber over his dealings with Mulroney. Read story.
Nov. 12, 2007: Mulroney calls for the federal government to drop an independent review and proceed immediately to a full-blown public inquiry. Read story.
Nov. 13, 2007: Harper catches opposition and members of his own party off-guard by announcing a public inquiry during Question Period.
Nov. 14, 2007: Harper names University of Waterloo President David Johnston to draft the terms of reference for the public inquiry. Read story.
Nov. 15, 2007: Ontario's Court of Appeal dismisses Schreiber's extradition appeal and instead accepts the justice minister's assurance that he would do nothing to remove Schreiber from Canada until Dec. 1, 2007.
Nov. 22, 2007: Federal opposition parties vote to open a broad probe into allegations involving Mulroney and Schreiber. Read story.
Nov. 27, 2007: House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken issues a rarely used Speaker's Warrant to put Schreiber in Parliament's custody. This overrides Schreiber's extradition order and compels him to testify before the ethics committee.
Nov. 28, 2007: Schreiber arrives at Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre. That night, the Justice Department consents to a judicial stay of surrender to give Schreiber time to appeal his case to the Supreme Court.
Nov. 29, 2007: In his first appearance before the ethics committee, Schreiber says Mulroney was paid only $300,000 of a $500,000 business deal because Mulroney didn't hold up his end of the bargain. He also denies claims by Mulroney that the money was for help with a pasta business and business contacts. Read story.
Nov. 30, 2007: A stay in Schreiber's extradition is granted by the courts pending an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. Read story.
Dec. 4, 2007: Just before noon, the committee receives word that Schreiber, who has given his second day of testimony, has been granted bail.
Dec. 13, 2007: Mulroney appears before the Commons ethics committee. He tells the committee his meeting with Schreiber two days before he left office was a farewell courtesy visit and that he promoted business on Schreiber's behalf only after stepping down. Read story.
Dec. 20, 2007: An Ontario court throws out Schreiber's lawsuit against Mulroney, saying it has no jurisdiction over the dispute. Read story.
Jan. 11, 2008: Harper announces he will call a limited public inquiry after the ethics committee finishes. Read story.
Feb. 5, 2008: Former federal justice minister Allan Rock and former Mulroney chief of staff Norman Spector appear before the committee. Read story.
Feb. 7, 2008: Luc Lavoie, former Mulroney communications director, and François Martin, chef and manager of 24 Sussex Drive during Mulroney's time as prime minister, appear before the committee. Read story.
Feb. 12, 2008: Fred Doucet, former Mulroney advisor, tells the committee he knows nothing about Airbus and accuses Schreiber of making a slew of false statements. Former Liberal cabinet minister Marc Lalonde, who worked as a lawyer for Schreiber, also appears and says that neither Schreiber nor any of his businesses hired him to represent them in the Airbus affair or GCI. Read story.
Feb. 14, 2008: Schreiber's former accountant, Giorgio Pelossi, tells the committee that Schreiber said Mulroney was supposed to get some proceeds from the Airbus sale. But he adds that Schreiber "lied all the time." Read story.
Feb. 26, 2008: Mulroney's public relations firm posts a statement late in the day on its website, declining, on Mulroney's behalf, the ethics committee's request to re-appear. Read story.
March 5, 2008: The federal government agrees to let Schreiber stay in Canada long enough to testify at a public inquiry. Read story.
March 6, 2008: The Supreme Court rejects Schreiber's bid to appeal extradition. Read story.
April 2, 2008: A final report by the ethics committee recommends holding a wide-ranging public inquiry. Read story.
April 7, 2008: David Johnston releases his report recommending that the public inquiry should be limited. Read the report and story.
April 16, 2008: Schreiber is freed on bail again.
May 29, 2008: The ethics committee votes to recall Mulroney to come back by June 12 on the grounds the government is dragging its feet on a promised public inquiry.
June 11, 2008: Mulroney refuses to testify for the second time before the ethics committee.
June 12, 2008: Justice Jeffrey J. Oliphant appointed to conduct the public inquiry.
Dec. 9, 2008: Oliphant delays start date of the public inquiry to March 30, 2009, from Feb. 9, because of problems with computerized processing of documents.
Dec.11, 2008: The Supreme Court refuses to review Schreiber's bid to reverse 2004 extradition order. Read story.
March 20, 2009: Oliphant rejects Mulroney's attempt to delay the inquiry. Read story.
March 26, 2009: Oliphant rules the inquiry will take a wide look at business relations between Mulroney and Schreiber. Read story.
March 30, 2009: On the opening day of the federal inquiry, questions for both witnesses — former Liberal justice minister Marc Lalonde and former Conservative defence minister Bill McKnight — focus on Bear Head Industries. Read story.
March 31, 2009: Beth Moores, the widow of former Newfoundland premier Frank Moores, tells the inquiry the Swiss bank account called Devon was meant for her. Mulroney's former chief of staff, Derek Burney, also testifies about Bear Head. Read story.
April 10, 2009: The Fifth Estate learns that former Ottawa lobbyist and N.L. premier Frank Moores wrote to Schreiber about Air Canada and political donations. Read story.
April 14, 2009: Schreiber's first day before the inquiry. Read story.
April 16, 2009: Schreiber testifies about when he made the lobbying arrangement with Mulroney. Read story.
April 17, 2009: On his fourth and final day, Schreiber admits parts of affidavit are false. Read story.
April 27, 2009: Doucet says he can't recall writing three letters or receiving fax about Airbus planes. Read story.
April 28, 2009: Doucet tells inquiry about writing memo in 2000 describing Schreiber's relationship with Mulroney. Read story.
May 5, 2009: Evidence heard that Doucet pressed for Bear Head project. Read story.
May 6, 2009: Forensic accountant says there's a "strong inference" that money paid to Mulroney came from Airbus funds. Read story.
May 12, 2009: The first day of Mulroney's testimony. Read story.
May 13, 2009: Mulroney tells the inquiry his 1996 statement about never having dealings with Schreiber was made only in relation to Airbus accusations. Read story.
May 15, 2009: Mulroney recalls receiving the first cash payment. Read story.
May 19, 2009: Mulroney reveals he paid income tax on only half the money he says he received from Schreiber after declaring it as income in 1999. Read story.
May 20, 2009: Mulroney wraps up his sixth day on the witness stand at the inquiry, saying he felt he was treated fairly and with respect. Read story.
May 20, 2009: Taxpayers learn they could foot the bill for Mulroney's projected $2 million in legal fees as part of a Treasury Board policy to financially assist Crown servants during such inquiries. Read story.
May 21, 2009: A Canada Revenue Agency official states that a voluntary disclosure program, since discontinued, allowed for Mulroney to avoid penalties and pay taxes on only half the $225,000 he said he received from Schreiber. Read story.