[JURIST] Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien [CBC profile] on Wednesday filed a legal challenge to a report [JURIST document] issued by Justice John Gomery in a federal investigation into a sponsorship program [CBC News backgrounder] that found Chretien responsible for abuses. In a motion filed in federal court on the final day of the appeals period, Chretien charged Gomery with bias in the investigation and with ignoring evidence supporting the former prime minister. The challenge was expected after Chretien announced that he would challenge the report released Nov. 1 by the Gomery Commission [official website]. A second report by the Commission is expected to be released in February 2006. The Commission was set up by current Prime Minister Paul Martin [official website] to investigate a federal program that sponsored an ad campaign against the Quebec sovereignty movement, but that ultimately resulted in unmonitored distributions of millions in funds. CBC News has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Gomery report blames former Canada PM for sponsorship scandal
• Canadian ad exec avoids jail time in sponsorship scandal
• Canadian PM apologizes for corruption scandal, promises election after report
• Canadian judge lifts publication ban on sponsorship scandal testimony
• Former Canadian PM testifies before sponsorship inquiry