The business leader panel holds Jean Chretien and Alfonso Gagliano unambiguously responsible for the sponsorship program imbroglio - 91% hold the former Public Works Minister very responsible, 80% the former Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Paul Martin is held far less responsible but he is certainly not “off the hook.” Only 12% of respondents feel that he has no responsibility at all while 38% hold him very responsible with most of the remainder holding him at least somewhat responsible.

Compared to the general public, interviewed in a National Post/COMPAS poll Friday February 13th for Saturday publication, the business panel appears tougher on Chretien and Gagliano and gentler on Martin. The business panel was interviewed Tuesday through Thursday, mainly before the revelation in the National Post that Martin had been warned about the misspending by a senior Liberal party official in 2002.

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