Former Liberal cabinet minister Andrew Younger secretly recorded conversations he had with the premier's chief of staff in February, one of which CBC News obtained Thursday.

The recording was made Feb. 12 in Younger's constituency office as he met with Kirby McVicar.

Younger tells CBC News he made the secret recording because he was so suspicious of the premier's office, he wanted to keep a copy of their conversation in order to protect himself.

At the time, Younger was on a forced leave of absence as the energy minister to deal with what the premier repeatedly called a "personal issue."

At the time, former Liberal staffer Tara Gault, with whom Younger had been in a personal relationship, was under police investigation for assaulting Younger.

The February recording provided to CBC runs 2 minutes 39 seconds. There is a four-second gap about halfway through.

In the audio file, McVicar is heard trying to convince Younger that while he no longer has the complete trust of the premier, it's possible Stephen McNeil would welcome him back into cabinet.

'There's a couple of things that are on that path'

"There is a path back," said McVicar. "The premier will leave your name in executive council without a portfolio so it will be easier when we get to that point."

That "path" back to cabinet would require the police investigation and legal case to be resolved.

"There's a couple of things that are on that path. And the first one is this ... the end comes to the legal situation that has arisen around. And hopefully that doesn't go ... you know ... it gets tossed and that's the anticipation, and great," said McVicar.

"The premier wants the legal stuff to be dealt with."

In the recording, the premier's chief of staff appears keen to have Younger in the legislature for the spring sitting as a backbencher.

"We need you back in the mix," Kirby tells Younger in the recording.

"We need you back contributing," he said.

As for facing reporters' questions, Kirby offers blunt advice.

"You've got to face these animals at some point," he said. "Eventually they're all going to scurry. 'No comment, no comment, none of your business. It's my private life.'"

'It just simply doesn't hold water'

Younger was eventually welcomed back to cabinet, this time as environment minister.

Gault was charged with assault. But those charges were dismissed last week when Younger refused to testify at her trial, citing his privilege as an MLA.

As a result, McNeil stripped Younger of his cabinet position and booted him from the Liberal caucus.

On Thursday afternoon, McNeil responded to the suggestion that he wanted "the legal stuff to be dealt with."

"It just simply doesn't hold water," McNeil said. "Why would I become involved in a criminal case? That's something for Mr. Younger and his lawyers to deal with. At no time had we brought into question whether he was a good minister or not."

As for the secret taping, the premier said he's baffled.

"It's odd to me that anyone would be taping a conversation without notifying that. As a matter of fact, in any other place, it would probably be illegal. Mr Younger's actions speak for themselves."