Smith had made a Freedom of Information request earlier in the year; the request forced by law the government to issue on 27 June a description or summary of the documents in question so that both parties could refer to concrete items. The 54-page summary raised more questions, and caused consternation over the speed at which the bill had been drafted: Gallant's office had begun the discussion of the bill on 24 January, less than two weeks prior to its introduction in the legislature on 5 February. On the same day, Gallant transferred authority over the bill to Stephen Horsman, who was then Minister of Justice. Dozens of emails were exchanged between officials "regarding urgency". The Law Society of New Brunswick and the Canadian Bar Association had taken positions favourable to Smith's cause by 4 July.