Get To The Bottom?

The sponsorship scandal that did so much to reduce the federal Liberals to minority government is back to haunt them, just as Prime Minister Paul Martin prepares for the fall parliamentary session.

Justice John Gomery, appointed by Martin seven months ago to "get to the bottom" of the affair, finally opens public hearings Tuesday.

The first witness will be none other than Auditor General Sheila Fraser, whose scathing report last February forced Martin to call the inquiry in the first place.

Fraser and key members of her staff are expected to testify for three full days, laying the groundwork for a parade of others, including senior politicians, civil servants and private-sector executives.