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 | | From: | Bill | | Subject: | You just can't hide the whole liberal party in Denmark! | | Date: | Sun, 23 Jan 2005 07:22:28 -0500 |
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 | [OK then some can go on permanent tour around the world.]
Top Grits set for Adscam grilling
Cabinet members summoned to testify this week
By STEPHANIE RUBEC, Parliamentary Bureau
Justice John Gomery has summoned a handful of Prime Minister Paul Martin's
senior cabinet members to the Adscam inquiry for a grilling this week. Gomery
will also call a half-dozen former Grit ministers who oversaw the controversial
sponsorship program and helped build the Liberal strategy to fight separatist
forces in Quebec.
After months of hearing from bureaucrats involved in federal advertising and
sponsorships, Gomery will set his sights on the politicians in power when the
sponsorship program was born and who oversaw advertising.
Former PM Jean Chretien created the program in 1996 in a bid to shore up federal
visibility in Quebec and stamp out the separatist movement.
Former Public Works Minister Diane Marleau, who co-signed the documents to
create the $250-million program with Chretien, is expected to testify tomorrow.
Auditor General Sheila Fraser concluded in her February 2004 report that the
program was used to funnel funds to Liberal friendly advertising firms who often
did little or no work for it.
The RCMP has charged the sponsorship program's former head, Chuck Guite, and a
handful of advertising execs with defrauding taxpayers. Other charges are
expected.
Francois Perreault, the commission's spokesman, said Environment Minister
Stephane Dion, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Lucienne Robillard and Foreign
Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew have been told to free up their calendars this
week.
'ON STANDBY'
"We put them on standby for this," Perreault said.
Liberal MP Denis Coderre and former Liberal ministers Marcel Masse and Martin
Cauchon are also expected to be grilled by the commission this week.
Alfonso Gagliano, former public works minister and disgraced ambassador to
Denmark, is expected to testify at the commission Jan. 31.
Chretien is expected to testify shortly before Prime Minister Paul Martin takes
the stand Feb. 10 -- one year to the day after Fraser ripped the lid off the
sponsorship scandal.
stephanie.rubec@tor.sunpub.com
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