A former public works bureaucrat pointed his finger at Charles (Chuck) Guité as the "controlling influence" at the centre of the sponsorship scandal, saying that irregularities in awarding federal advertising contracts go back as far as 1994.

Allan Cutler, who had the job of negotiating prices and terms of federal ad contracts, told the Commons public accounts committee on Thursday that commissions were paid for no apparent service and improper advancements were made to agencies, all approved by Guité, who oversaw the sponsorship program from 1996-1999.

Cutler said he complained to Guité and then found himself in hot water.

Allan Cutler

"It quickly became apparent to me, my job was in jeopardy," he said.

No action was taken on the irregularities Cutler pointed out and according to his union, Cutler was shoved aside and eventually left his post at Public Works.

Cutler did not work with Guité when the federal sponsorship program began in 1997, but he said that many of the problems identified in the scandal, originated earlier.

"It seems to me ... the real culprit in this whole mess is Guité," said Public Accounts Committee member Shawn Murphy.

The committee intends to call Guité as a witness to hear what he has to say.