Key Players

CTV.ca News

Some key players in the sponsorship scandal, based on the testimony of Jean Brault, the former head of Groupaction, at the Gomery inquiry.

Jean Brault

President of the now-defunct Groupaction Marketing Inc.

Brault says he provided cash, paid bills, and financed salaries and expenses for the Liberal party's Quebec wing from 1993-2002.

Brault told the inquiry about deals he allegedly had with top Quebec Liberals and how "if it wasn't for the investments of all types that we made towards to the party, despite our abilities, our share of the pie would have been very small."

Gabriel (Gaby) Chretien

The 87-year-old, older brother of former prime minister, Jean Chretien, and a Liberal Party organizer on Montreal's south shore.

Brault alleges $4,000 was sent to Gabriel Chretien in 1998 and that Gabriel Chretien, in turn, passed that money along to help candidate Yolande Thibeault in 1998.

An invoice filed at the inquiry shows Gabriel Chretien billed Brault for "professional honoraria."

Gabriel Chretien released an affidavit on Thursday saying he never sent a false invoice, and that the donation was for the provincial Liberals.

Benoit Corbeil

A one-time president and vice-president of the Liberals' Quebec wing.

Brault alleges Corbeil was one of three men who masterminded the payment scheme. He also alleges it was Corbeil who made regular requests for cash.

Jacques Corriveau

A confidant of former prime minister Jean Chretien and a party loyalist whose company, PluriDesign, produced signs for the federal Liberals' 1997 election campaign.

Brault alleges Corriveau was another of the three men who masterminded the payment scheme. And, Brault also alleges Corriveau passed along cash requests to him from either Corbeil or Alain Renaud (see below).

Alfonso Gagliano

The former federal public works minister and a former Quebec lieutenant for Jean Chretien.

Brault alleges a Gagliano fundraising event served as a drop-off site for a secret Groupaction cash contribution.

Serge Gosselin

A one-time adviser to cabinet minister Stephane Dion, and a former chief of staff to former Montreal mayor Pierre Bourque.

Brault alleges Gosselin was added to Groupaction's payroll in 1996 at the behest of top Liberal officials, and that Gosselin wrote a book on Gagliano while he was on Groupaction payroll.

Tony Mignacca

A property management expert and an associate of Alfonso Gagliano for 30 years since their days at a Montreal school board.

Brault alleges that Mignacca made a veiled threat that Groupaction would lose a major contract if Brault did not rehire a Liberal lobbyist with whom he had had a falling-out.

Joseph Morselli

A former school board colleague and one-time adviser of Alfonso Gagliano.

Brault alleges that Morselli accepted some of his cash payments to the Liberals.

Brault alleges Morselli also conspired with him in a $50,000 scheme in 2001 to manipulate the federal gun-registry bidding process in Groupaction's favour.

Alain Renaud

A Liberal fundraiser and printing salesman.

Brault alleges that Renaud was another of the three men who came up with the payment scheme. Renaud told The Globe and Mail he was paid $1 million in consulting fees between 1994 to 2000, to open doors and lobby influential Liberals.

Brault also alleges Renaud was a party operative who secured cash donations from the firm, relayed requests to Brault from top Liberals, and that Renaud's continued employment served as collateral guaranteeing Groupaction retained sponsorship

Buryl Wiseman

A Liberal fundraiser who also once worked in the offices of Liberal MP Irwin Cotler, who is now the federal Minister of Justice.

Brault alleges that Wiseman allegedly received cash payments of $5,000 a month in lieu of salary from Groupaction, and that those payments totalled about $20,000-$25,000 in 2001.

John Welch

Chief of staff to federal Heritage Minister Liza Frulla, Welch stepped down - temporarily - after being named in Brault’s testimony. Frulla says he’ll fight to clear his name.

Brault alleges Corriveau pressed him to hire Welch in 1998 at annual salary of $84,000.

Brault also alleges that Welch used Groupaction's offices to work phones for Liberals but never performed any work for the firm.