In the wake of shocking revelations about the misuse of federal funds in the Sponsorship program, then Prime Minister Paul Martin took the unprecedented step of creating an independent commission of enquiry, to be led by one man. That man was granted extraordinary power to seek out the truth, asking tough questions and demanding real answers. His name is now indelibly part of Canadian history: Justice John H. Gomery.

Gomery chose Francois Perreault, a veteran journalist, to be the Commission's public spokesperson, a move in itself extraordinary, as public commissions usually hide behind a cloak of secrecy and carefully vetted press releases. His resulting insider's account is a revelation of what really happened, and how the two remarkable Gomery reports saw the light of day in spite of huge bureaucratic and political resistance.

Naming names and moving down the corridors of power to the heart of the nation, Perreault shows how Gomery moved from producing a shattering report that brought a government down to offering a set of reasoned, revolutionary recommendations about Federal governance and the delicate balance of power between the Prime Minister and Parliament.

Public relations professional Francois Perrault began as a reporter at the Montreal daily newspaper La Presse, then worked for the CBC where he became a star journalist for the show Telejournal. He was a parliamentary correspondent in Ottawa, first for the CBC and later for CTV, where he gained a unique insight into the inner workings of federal politics.

Francois Perreault's profile page

John H. Gomery is a retired Canadian jurist who was appointed on February 19, 2004 as Commissioner of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities (informally, the Gomery Commission) to investigate the Sponsorship scandal.

John Gomery's profile page

"A new book by the media spokesman for the sponsorship inquiry led by Justice John Gomery spins a tale of missed opportunities on the road to recommendations to clean up government."

Chronicle Herald, The (Halifax, NS)

"This buoyant piece of reportage is an attempt to capture some of the atmosphere surrounding the commission."

"What we have here is a good first approximation of an event that will ave more than its fair share of interpreters later on. Readers will find the summary of Gomery's recommendations useful. And, since this is a translation, one should congratulate Carl Angers for an excellent job."

Winnipeg Free Press

"...compelling behind-the-scenes account..."

"Naming names and skillfully navigating the corridors of power into the heart of the nation, Perreault delivers a cautionary tale for every Canadian."

Hill Times, The (Ottawa, ON)

"Political science majors, rejoice! You finally have your own version of a Harry Potter blockbuster book! The cover shot of this book says it all. The distinguished attire, the cold grey unforgiving contrete architecture, the blank white sky, the earnest, weary expression of the man at the centre... In more ways than just juxtaposition Justice John H. Gomery realls IS the exorcist for our increasingly corrupted age."

"...There isn't a non-fiction book out there that so easily combines smarts, spin and substance. So engrossing is the book (this is one surprisingly accessible - yet academic - piece of work) that is has the palpable urgency of the best fiction with the power-of-one sure of creating real change in our system."

CD Syndicated

"The book does offer a humanizing portraig ot Gomery, several tantalizing glimpses of how the power brokers in the bureaucracy operate, and a few other footnotes to history..."

"One of Perrault's most usefil insights illuminates the mized reception at the highest levels of the bureaucracy to Paul Martin's decision to initiate the inquirt in the first place."

Globe & Mail, The

"The book, Inside Gomery, faults bureaucrats for trying to withhold documents and giving misleading information about the cost of the inquiry."

Globe & Mail, The