The program was developed to promote national unity in Quebec following the narrow defeat of a separatist referendum in the French-speaking province in 1995. Advertising agencies with Liberal ties allegedly received millions of dollars in exchange for little or no apparent work.
The scandal led to a deep rift in the Liberal Party, in particular between Chretien and Martin.
Amid desk-pounding and shouting in the House of Commons on Monday, a red-faced Martin reminded his opponents that he had dissolved the program, convened the commission to investigate the project and filed lawsuits against 19 ad agencies to recover government funds.
Even if it is determined that Martin had no knowledge of the misuse of government funds in the name of national unity, he may have to take the fall.
"The problem with corruption, when it occurs -- and Watergate was a good example of this in the United States -- it undermines confidence in not just the people who are involved, but in the institution that they represent," said Wesley Cragg, head of Transparency International Canada, a global anti-corruption coalition. "That's the real worry."
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