Today, Justice Jeffrey Oliphant received an application from Brian Mulroney's lawyer requesting an adjournment to the start of the inquiry into the former PM's dealings with businessman Karlheinz Schreiber. He wants the inquiry pushed back from March 30 to April 14.

Lawyer Guy Pratte is also seeking clarification of the commissioner's recent ruling on the standards of conduct he intends to apply in this case

What does it all mean?

Rosemary Barton

Well, it might mean an even longer delay as Pratte seems concerned about the commission's jurisdiction and Oliphant's decision on just what will be examined at the inquiry and what won't.

Particularly, Pratte seems concerned by Oliphant saying he would be "informed" by federal criminal statutes as he picks his way thorugh the evidence.

The Manitoba judge made it clear in a previous ruling that he would not rule on criminal liability. But Pratte seems concerned Oliphant is opening the door to just that.

Pratte also asks the commissioner to clarify what he means when he says he will investigate Mulroney's conduct after he stepped down as prime minister and questions whether this falls under the commission's jurisdiction.

He says Mulroney accepts that he had to maintain a high standard while in public office and followed the law both while a public office holder and after.

For this reason, Pratte is asking the commission to delay the start date to April 14 to allow Oliphant to respond to this request for clarification and to allow the parties to review "substantial" documents that have now been filed with the inquiry. Pratte says that in the last week the parties have received almost 200 new documents.