Jean Chrétien's testimony at the Gomery inquiry yesterday made it to the front page of newspapers across Canada, and his golf ball stunt – meant to lash back at inquiry head Justice John Gomery – stole the headlines. Here are some of today's reactions from different parts of the country on the content of the former prime minister's testimony and on its theatrical delivery.
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien salutes members of the media upon his arrival before the Gomery inquiry. (CP Photo/Tom Hanson)
Jean Chrétien is a masterful politician and a scrappy street fighter. Both traits were front and centre yesterday as he turned in a vintage performance to protect his name and defend his legacy ... He looked credible … And he served up a bit of unforgettable political theatre by hauling American presidential golf balls from his briefcase.
– Toronto Star (Editorial)
His glib responses and cavalier attitude yesterday showed that Jean Chrétien just doesn't get it. He's out of touch with Canadians because he doesn't understand why we are upset. The sponsorship scandal is not about national unity, it's about the profligate waste of taxpayers' money – our money.
– Halifax Daily News (Editorial)
Former prime minister Jean Chrétien used his long-anticipated appearance before the Gomery commission Tuesday to remind us all how much we owe him. It was fair theatre, but told us nothing we didn't already know about the sponsorship scandal … ties were given out to foreign dignitaries, Mountie balloons were flying over Parliament Hill, corkscrews and golf balls were tossed around in Quebec while ad firms in that province raked in the cash and donated some of it to the Liberal party.
– Victoria Times Colonist (Comment)
Jean Chrétien's appearance at the Adscam inquiry yesterday at least showed the wily former PM hasn't lost his knack for bravado, bluster and utterly bamboozling the media.
– Greg Weston, Ottawa Sun.
Chrétien associates broke all the rules of transparency and all process, not in the name of saving Canada from separatists, but in their own partisan interests …This was about greed and corruption in its most rotten form. They thought of it as their money, not yours.
– Ian MacDonald, Montreal Gazette
Gilles Duceppe's response (RealVideo runs 5:59)
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