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INDEPTH: SPONSORSHIP SCANDAL
In their own words
CBC News Online | February 12, 2004


Auditor General Sheila Fraser (CP photo)
"I think this is such a blatant misuse of public funds that it is shocking. I am actually appalled by what we've found."
  – Auditor General Sheila Fraser

"I am deeply disturbed that such practices were allowed to happen in the first place. I don't think anybody can take this lightly."
   – Sheila Fraser

"I had no idea what was going on here."
   – Prime Minister Paul Martin after the release of the report


Prime Minister Paul Martin
"These acts were perpetrated by a very small group of 10 to 12 people within the 14,000 who work for Public Works. They didn't come to cabinet and say, 'Oh, can we break these rules?' They operated in secrecy."
   – Paul Martin

"No one understood the full scope of what was involved until the auditor general's report that came out recently. Anybody who knew about that and did nothing should resign immediately."
  – Martin on the rumours of irregularities in the Department of Public Works in 2000.

"It is no secret that I did not have an easy relationship with those around the prime minister. In short, my advice was not routinely sought on issues related to Quebec."
   – Paul Martin

"I was certainly not in on the secrets of the gods."
   –Martin answers a question on his knowledge of how far up the corruption went

"To quote another prime minister, you just watch me."
   –Martin on whether he would "clean house" at Crown corporations involved in the scandal.


Alfonso Gagliano
"This is an ordeal that has been dogging me for over two years. Now I'll have a chance to go back home and answer those questions."
  – former public works minister Alfonso Gagliano

"Back in 1998 we did a couple of programs that we didn't have signed contracts for. That was a mistake on our part, but we don't do that today. What we do today is … above board. Everything is fine here."
  – Canada Post spokesperson John Caines


Grant Hill
"Mr. Speaker, this is unbelievable. We started out [with] a national disgrace that required a public inquiry. Next, a small band of public servants were duping the prime minister. And now [former] prime minister Jean Chrétien is the one who's responsible. It is unbelievable. "This is the prime minister of Canada. Stand up and act like it!"
   – Conservative interim leader Grant Hill in question period

"We have seen a money-laundering system that would make Saddam Hussein look proud."
   – Conservative MP John Williams

"This is corruption at the highest level … Democracy is being threatened here."
  – John Williams

"The prime minister is a creature of the Liberal party in Quebec. How can the prime minister claim that he knew nothing, saw nothing and heard nothing? It sounds awfully reminiscent of Richard Nixon blaming a small unit within the White House for actions that he knew nothing about."
  – Conservative MP Jason Kenney

"I want to assure the Liberals that they've regained the title when it comes to scandals. At this rate, Flat Mark will be up for investigation before we know it."
  – NDP House leader Bill Blaikie

"He's like Imelda Marcos, hoarding the shoes while crying crocodile tears over the fact that they were bought in the first place."
   – NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis

"I don't think anymore. [When] I was the government, I replied to all your questions – a lot of them. Now if you have questions ask the government."
   – former prime minister Jean Chrétien responds to reporters' questions on the scandal outside his Ottawa law office





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MAIN PAGE TIMELINE OF RECENT EVENTS
GOMERY REPORT: PHASE TWO RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY HIGHLIGHTS FAQs FULL REPORT REACTION QUOTES
GOMERY REPORT: PHASE ONE FULL REPORT MAJOR FINDINGS HIGHLIGHTS WHO KNEW WHAT REACTION KEY QUOTES ANALYSIS: Liberals' worst fears ANALYSIS: How did it go so wrong? MONTREAL REACTS: Tracey Madigan's Online Diary
GALLERIES: Who's who photo gallery Cartoon gallery: Phase One report Cartoon gallery: Auditor general's report
GOMERY INQUIRY: Gomery: The players Gomery: Key Companies Gomery by the numbers A summary of the testimony Testimony 2004 Follow the money Kroll report (pdf)
PLEA TO THE NATION: Paul Martin's televised address Stephen Harper's response Jack Layton's response Gilles Duceppe's response (RealVideo runs 5:59)
KEY WITNESSES:
CHUCK GUITÉ 'Not all my fault' From bureaucrat to lobbyist 'No phoney invoices'
PAUL COFFIN 'Phoney invoices'
JACQUES CORRIVEAU: At the centre of the storm
ALAIN RENAUD: Lobbyist extraordinaire
JEAN BRAULT: Cash for contracts Paper trail
PAUL MARTIN: Not in the sponsorship loop
JEAN CHRETIEN: Economics and golf balls Editorial reviews
VIEWPOINT: Rex Murphy: Sell the Peace Tower to Wal-Mart? Ira Basen: Watergate, the sponsorship scandal and the press
HISTORY: Ad firms and liberals In their own words
RELATED: The top 10 Canadian government scandals Public inquiries Auditor General's report 2004 Jean Chrétien Paul Martin

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Gomery Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program

Public Works internal audit on sponsorship program, August 2000 [PDF file]
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