The subdued tones of this week’s Auditor General’s report had many reporters pining for the days of the sponsorship scandal.

The report touched on many areas of national importance with its focus on information practices in diverse areas such as national defence, border security and industry.

But alas, many reporters were left pining for the “good old days” when a seemingly bolder Sheila Fraser lambasted the then-Liberal government for “breaking every rule in the book.”

When pressed during a news conference, Fraser took strong positions on issues such as neglected land claim agreements and ill-monitored military health care spending.

But she stopped short of the dramatic language for which she is well-known.

As for interim Environmental Commissioner Ron Thompson’s contribution, his concerns about sustainable development were largely masked by jargon.

But Thompson did provide the most interesting moment in the lockup from a human interest point of view.

He says he recently became a grandfather and that development has made him more concerned than ever about environmental sustainability.