3rd Reaction – Gomery

Structure, Responsibility and the Lines of Accountability in the Federal Government

Another important chain of events that implicates that Martin must have known something was a Liberal Cabinet retreat that took place in February 1 & 2 of 1996.

On page 25 it states:

“A Cabinet committee chaired by the Honourable Marcel Masse, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, recommended at a Cabinet retreat on February 1 and 2, 1996, a “substantial strengthening of the Liberal Party of Quebec”, including the hiring of organizers.

Most witnesses agreed that such a recommendation would not ordinarily form part of a Cabinet Committee’s Report.

It is an indication of the failure of some members of the government at that time to consider that any political party other than the Liberal Party of Canada could have a role in promoting federalism in Quebec."


So who was in attendance in that Cabinet retreat? Brainstorming was evident:

“The Commission concludes that a decision in principle was reached at the February 1996 Cabinet retreat to improve federal government advertising and communications to enhance the visibility of the federal presence in Quebec, but that no specific decisions were made by the Ministers present on mechanisms, financing or responsibility for the program.”

Surely Martin had to be at that retreat. So why didn’t Martin ask the questions then on the mechanisms, financing or responsibility for the program?

Why didn’t those in attendance at this Liberal Cabinet retreat question this proposal by Marcel Masse that only focused on strengthening the Liberal Party in Quebec?

Did it not seem inappropriate to any one of those Cabinet Ministers that questions weren’t asked of Masse on how he proposed to do this or that the Liberal Party was being favoured in this instance?

I think it's important to note that Marcel Masse was the President of the Treasury Board commencing on January 25, 1996 to August 1999 and this retreat took place on February 1 & 2 of 1996.

Masse stepped down on January 3 1993 as the Progressive Conservative Minister of National Defense if the Cabinet was shuffled, as he would not be running in the next election.

So Masse was appointed as Treasury Board President on January 25, 1996 by a Liberal government and came up with the idea of strengthening Liberal support?

Do red flags not go up when the president of the Treasury Board brings up a proposal without the details?

Is there information missing that has not been disclosed by those in attendance at this retreat as to what was mentioned or asked regarding just how to strengthen the Liberal Party?