Jim Brown
Canadian Press

Thursday, April 07, 2005

The top aide to Heritage Minister Liza Frulla has stepped down - at least temporarily - after he was named in explosive testimony at the federal sponsorship inquiry.

Good start, we know the background, there is a scandal, someone named names, and now an aid is stepping down. Oh yes, an all powerfull aid. Now the government can point its finger and say ‘look, we are serious!’

To continue:

John Welch, who took over as Frulla’s chief of staff in January, was the subject of allegations by Montreal ad executive Jean Brault. The move temporarily relieves at least one headache Prime Minister Paul Martin faces as a result of testimony at the sponsorship hearings that may splash mud on some people still serving in the government.

Well what did he do?

In previously banned evidence that was released Thursday, Brault claimed he was pressured by Liberal party officials in 1996 to put Welch on the payroll at his company, Groupaction Mareketing. Brault said he did so, and paid Welch a salary of $80,000 a year, despite the fact that his real job was to organize for the Liberals in Quebec. ”He came to the office, he was very active on the telephone and we were made to understand that he did work of one nature or another for the party,” Brault told the inquiry headed by Justice John Gomery.

He volunteered to do so while he fights to clear his name and will continue to receive his normal salary, said Lapierre.

I’m sure he volunteered… real sure. Lastly:

Most of the key players in the scandal are long gone from the inner circles of power. But Welch was not the only one of the current crop of cabinet aides to come under scrutiny as a result of Brault’s testimony.

Really? Who else? Oh its a cliffhanger article…

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