"'Sponsorship scandal' of industrial proportions?"

Could it be that the "gun control" will turn out to be a "sponsorship scandal" of industrial proportions?... R.S., Que.

"The fuse is burning, lets see how far the Lieberals can run before the blast." B.S., Ottawa

The Attorney General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, is set to release another major audit report to Parliament May 16, 2006. There are hints that Chapter 4, The Firearms Registry, will be a huge topic, with signifcant findings. So much so that the AG was obliged to conduct and file an supplementary report:

"Chapter 4 — Canadian Firearms Program. The chapter looks at the management of the Program since 2002, when the Auditor General reported that an audit of the program's implementation could not be completed. Financial information was unreliable and insufficient to allow for Parliament's effective scrutiny or to explain the dramatic increase in the cost of the program. Since then, Parliament has expressed concern about the quality of information provided to it on the program's costs and performance. This status report assesses the progress of the Canada Firearms Centre in addressing the 2002 audit's single recommendation—that the gaps in financial reporting be rectified. We also looked at contract management and performance reporting."

"Another significant matter. In carrying out our audit of the Canada Firearms Centre, we noted a matter with significant implications for Parliament's control of public spending. Along with the Status Report we are providing a report that discusses this matter in detail."