1st Reaction - Gomery

Major findings of the Gomery Inquiry

Assignment of Responsibility

These are not very long and can be read easily.

On reading the assignment of responsibility, my conclusion is, the illegal funding and mismanagement is a problem concerning the Liberal Party of Canada to further strengthen its Quebec wing that the Liberal Party has to take responsibility for.

It states in no uncertain terms, that, since Mr. Chretien and Mr. Gagliano were responsible for their staff, even though they have been exonerated from the kick-back schemes - they are responsible for their staff and allowed abuses to continue.

The CBC and CTV did not highlight these points.

Of particular interest, on page 2 of the Assignment of Responsibility, Gomery states:

"The notion that Mr. Pelletier and Mr. Gagliano could provide political input without strongly influencing the decision-making process is nonsense and ignores the obvious reality that the expression of an opinion to a subordinate official by the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff or the Minister amounts to an order. Mr. Pelletier's actions in meeting with Mr. Guite in the absence of Mr. Quail or his representative constituted political encroachment into the administrative domain. It was a dangerous precedent that should not be condoned."

I'm still looking for the comments on Martin not being aware of what was going on in the report. CTV touched on it so briefly that I wasn't able to catch what was said.

While the CBC and CTV are focusing only on Chretien, they are ignoring the obvious - what Martin didn't know and why.

That is why I believe Gomery made his public statement to refuse questions asked from the media, as he stated he didn't want to answer them focusing on a particular person or agency because he said, the full report should be read and taken as a whole, not attributed to a single entity. He is obviously emphasising that this is systemic, not attributable to a "few rotten apples" as the current Liberals have tried to portray.

I believe that was Gomery's shot at the media for failing to see the forest for the trees and an attempt to deflect Martin's spin doctors.

I am satisfied with Gomery. I am not satisfied with what the media is not reporting.