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Scandals, Boondoggles and White Elephants
Pepper spray, tainted tuna and miracle cucumbers have all played their part in Canada's long tradition of political misconduct. Politicians misbehave. They get caught. The public is outraged. Then all is pretty much forgotten. And the cycle starts again. From John A. Macdonald and the Pacific railway fiasco to the sponsorship affair, CBC Archives looks back at some of the biggest scandals, boondoggles and white elephants in Canadian politics.

	Canada's first political scandal		The King-Byng Affair		Caught up in a forgery
	The Pacific railway scandal brings down Sir John A. and his Conservatives. (TV; runs 4:40)		It's war — between the prime minister and the governor general. (TV; runs 0:50)		Solicitor general Francis Fox shocks the nation with his intensely personal confession. (TV; runs 8:34)

	The tainted Star-Kist tuna scandal		Premier Peckford's pickle palace		British Columbia's Bingogate
	Cans of rancid tuna bring down Fisheries Minister John Fraser. (TV; runs 19:18)		Newfoundland's hydroponic cucumber operation is turning into an expensive joke. (TV; runs 7:49)		Mike Harcourt's party is accused of stealing money from charities but the premier refuses to quit. (TV; runs 2:17)

	From politics to prison in Saskatchewan		Free speech meets pepper spray		The prime minister and his Grand-Mère
	A former government on trial ends with 16 convictions, six jail terms and one suicide. (TV; runs 9:10)		Jean Chrétien and Liberals get grilled over RCMP handling of APEC protesters. (TV; runs 4:43)		Chrétien's personal reputation is attacked in the controversy dubbed Shawinigate. (TV; runs 13:08)

	Off target — by a billion dollars		Sponsorship scandal: Breaking all the rules		Canada's rich history of political disgrace
	The government is under fire over the surging cost of Canada's gun registry. (TV; runs 6:25)		The auditor general describes senior civil servants' behavior as "appalling." (TV; runs 5:43)		An airing of the country's political dirty laundry. (Radio; runs 12:51)

LINKS Topic from Les Archives de Radio-Canada on the same subject Scandales dans les coulisses du pouvoir Related Topics from CBC's Archives From Cheers to Jeers: The Mulroney Years Politics, Sex and Gerda Munsinger Sir John A. Macdonald: Architect of Modern Canada External sites CBC News Indepth: Top ten scandals in Canadian political history The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

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