In a new book, former Liberal cabinet minister Alfonso Gagliano blames Italian stereotypes for ruining his reputation after the federal sponsorship scandal.

Gagliano has penned an autobiography called "The Corridors of Power," in which he says he was unaware of any fraudulent spending in the sponsorship program. In an interview Monday with CTV Montreal, Gagliano said Canadians assumed he was guilty because he's Italian.

"I strongly believe that," he said. "If my name wasn't Gagliano, I think I would have had a better chance to explain what really happened."

Gagliano was a Jean Chrétien loyalist, who in the late 1990s served as minister of public works and government services. As Quebec lieutenant, Gagliano acted as political boss of the province for the federal Liberals, and ran federal patronage in that province.

On Sept. 5, 1997, Gagliano and Chrétien signed off on the now-infamous sponsorship program. The year before Auditor General Sheila Fraser's 2003 report on the sponsorship scandal, Chrétien appointed Gagliano ambassador to Denmark.

Shortly after release of the report, incoming Prime Minister Paul Martin made it one of his first acts to fire Gagliano.

Gagliano now says he was surprised when he was named in Fraser's report, but was not surprised that Martin responded by firing him.

"The Corridors of Power" details Gagliano's acrimonious relationship with Martin. In it, Gagliano describes Martin as a "weak leader" who lacked charisma and communication skills.

He also criticizes Justice John Gomery, suggesting Gomery had already formed an opinion on the sponsorship scandal before conducting his inquiry.

Gomery's report said of Gagliano: "The evidence is overwhelming that Mr. Gagliano was a hands-on manager who took a great interest in the Sponsorship Program and an active part in its direction. He is reluctant to accept responsibility for the errors committed in the course of that administration and the political interference which his decision-making constituted."

Gagliano refutes this, and says Gomery was not receptive to new information at the inquiry. 'When I went to testify, his mind was already made up."

In the new book, Gagliano maintains that he had no idea of any impropriety. He suggests the federal bureaucrats in charge of the program were responsible for the fraudulent activity.

The former minister has repeatedly claimed he was scapegoated in the $100-million federal sponsorship scandal.

On Monday, he told CTV Montreal that he no longer expects all Canadians will believe his innocence after "years of people hammering on me," but he hopes the book will at least allow him a platform to share his account of the events that lead to the widespread distrust of the federal Liberal party.

"I think the facts are there, and now people can judge knowing both sides of the coin."

After the sponsorship inquiry, Gagliano was banned for life from the federal Liberal party. He has filed a $4.6 million wrongful-dismissal lawsuit.

"The Corridors of Power" is currently available in French. Gagliano says he has plans to release English and Italian versions soon.