In 2004, Canadians were getting acquainted with the early stages of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities. Justice John Gomery acted as the sole commissioner, with a mandate to figure out how corruption saturated the efforts to raise awareness about the federal government’s activities in Quebec.

The revelations of the Gomery Commission played a significant role in the way Canadians perceived the Liberal Party. Paul Martin became prime minister following the retirement of Jean Chrétien, enjoying high approval ratings and a seemingly disjointed opposition. While Martin earned a minority mandate in 2004, the Liberals were defeated by the Conservatives in 2006. The campaign saw Stephen Harper implement a unique one-two punch: Reminding voters of the “sponsorship scandal” and providing palatable pieces of policy—such as a reduction on the goods and services tax (GST)—that voters could get behind.

Two decades later, the Liberal Party is once again in the middle of an unwelcome review. The Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions began its activities in September 2023. Last month, 45 per cent of Canadians told........

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