November 1, 2005

Gomery: Chrétien "accountable" for AdScam

Report alleges kickbacks, illegal campaign contributions

Justice John Gomery says the Liberal government "subverted and betrayed" the public trust, "not only because public funds were wasted and misappropriated, but also because no one was held responsible or punished for his misconduct." Justice Gomery released his fact-finding report into the Sponsorship Scandal this morning.

He says that political interference, an excessive concentration of power in the Prime Minister's Office and greed all played a role in the scandal. He is most pointed about his criticism of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

"The Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff [Jean Pelletier] arrogated to themselves the direction of a virtually secret program of discretionary spending to selected beneficiaries, saying that they believed in good faith that those grants would enhance Canadian unity," Justice Gomery wrote. Mr. Chrétien, he added, "is accountable for the defective manner in which the sponsorship program and its initiatives were implemented."

He also criticises the Liberal Party of Canada which he says knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions. It is reported the Liberals will be cutting a cheque to the Government of Canada to repay any illegal contributions this afternoon.

The report also alleges Chrétien confidante Jacques Corriveau and Chuck Guite, the bureaucrat in charge of the program, accepted kickbacks for sponsorship contracts, though it clearly states Mr. Chrétien had no hand in those.

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