Today, Judge Jeffrey Oliphant ruled on the "standards of conduct" he expects to employ in the inquiry involving former prime minister Brian Mulroney and Karlheinz Schreiber.

This is important because it sets the terms under which Mulroney's dealings with the former lobbyist will be considered.

Rosemary Barton

In short, Oliphant said he will not apply legal standards to the business dealings between the two men, although he may look to the Income Tax Act and Criminal Code to help him.

Oliphant said he will use what he calls an "objective standard" in determining the "appropriateness" of what Mulroney did or did not do when he accepted money from Schreiber.

To do so, Oliphant will use the code of ethics set out by Mulroney himself.

Oliphant writes: "One of the purposes of an inquiry is to bring that public scrutiny to bear. If the prime minister (Brian Mulroney) intended to hold ministers personally accountable to that level, then it follows that he himself would be accountable on the same basis."

— Rosemary Barton