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Former prime minister Jean Chretien said Friday he's sorry if people "betrayed the nation" and made mistakes leading to the sponsorship scandal, adding he takes responsibility for them.



In his first public statement on the furore since he testified at the Gomery commission in February, Chretien also said he didn't want to comment on Prime Minister Paul Martin's, leadership on the issue, which has ignited separatist sentiment in Quebec and threatens to topple the government.

But Chretien said he's still behind the Liberal party.

"I am a Liberal and if there's an election, I will vote Liberal with pleasure."

Recalling his appearance before the Gomery inquiry, Chretien said: "In my statement, I said I was sorry if mistakes were made and I said I have to take the full responsibility of what's good and what's bad when you're the prime minister."

"And I said if mistakes were made, these people have betrayed the nation, betrayed the government and myself and (through) due process, if found guilty, they should be punished," said Chretien, who was in Philadelphia to accept an award from a U.S. gay-rights group.

"I said, and I repeat, that I called the police in March 2002 and the first case was in front of the court before I left...and even before the auditor general's report."

Advertising executive Paul Coffin was the first to be charged in the sponsorship affair. Coffin, who faces criminal charges before Quebec Superior Court, testified at the inquiry this week.

Chretien has made few public appearances since his six hours of testimony where he denied any knowledge of misspending of some $100 million Cdn in federal advertising funds which were allegedly diverted to Liberal party supporters for little or no work.

He is challenging the impartiality of Justice John Gomery in court in a bid to remove him from the inquiry.

Chretien said in February he regretted any mistakes and any wrongdoing should be punished.

On Friday, he again defended the sponsorship program to raise the visibility of the federal government in Quebec, saying it was good for the country.

He stopped briefly to talk to reporters before attending a dinner held by the Equality Forum gay-rights group, which honored Chretien for supporting same-sex marriage when he was prime minister.

The group's news release highlighted the political turmoil in Canada and noted Chretien was the subject of an official inquiry into misapporpriated funds.

But he received a warm reception at the $200-a-plate gala dinner as he was presented with forum's 10th annual International Role Model Award.

"This award acknowledges the progress we have made in Canada in the name of equality and in the name of respect for the relationships of gay and lesbian couples," Chretien said.

"Same-sex marriages are now a reality in Canada and I don't think there will be any turning back," he said to applause.

"It is not completely over but the direction is clear."

Legislation legalizing gay marriages was introduced after court decisions upheld the practice. But the bill would be delayed by a spring election, perhaps indefinitely depending on who wins.

"It was not a matter to be settled by polling or trying to be popular," Chretien told the crowd.

"This issue was about rights and respect. I prefer to live in a world where rights are expanding, rather than one where rights are contracting."

Michele Bogrette, the group's vice-president, said Chretien was "an especially worthy candidate."

"He is a devout Catholic who adhered to his public responsibility of equality for all Canadian citizens."

Two RCMP officers in red dress uniform arrived at the hall before the prime minister, drawing fire from Conservative party House Leader John Reynolds.

"I do have a problem when the government of Canada, through taxpayers' dollars, funds RCMP to go along with him in the guise of tourism or whatever."

The MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast said there's a shortage of police officers to deal with crime in Canada.

"Now, if they need somebody in tourism to go along, put a couple of people in uniform for show but don't take two fully qualified RCMP officers to travel with the former prime minister down to Philadelphia to get some award."

A different line of criticism came from the Liberal backbenches.

Pat O'Brien, the MP for London-Fanshawe, said he understands the need to provide security for the former prime minister.

"But to have them there in their showpiece ceremonial type of dress is really one more insult to the people of Canada," he said.

O'Brien said he's "saddened" by Chretien's decision to accept the award.

"The award is being granted because...he didn't, as prime minister, use all the powers available to him to preserve, protect and defend marriage and the family as we have known it throughout our history."

Equality Forum seeks to advance gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

The group is hosting a weeklong series of events in Philadelphia to celebrate the cause, culminating in the honouring Sunday of 40 "heroes" - including Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell of Toronto, whose union was recognized as legal when the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in 2003 the right to marry should extend to same-sex couples.

A news release from the organizers said Bourassa and Varnell will be accompanied by two RCMP officers "to symbolize Canada's freedoms and tourism opportunities."

The Canadian Tourism Commission has a contract to use RCMP officers to promote tourism. The commission is funded by Ottawa, the provinces and the business community. In its 10-year history, the Equality Forum's award has gone to Canadians three times. Former NDP MP Svend Robinson won in 1999 for legislative efforts on behalf of gays, followed by Benjie Nycum and Mike Glatze, founders of Young Gay America in 2003. Former justice minister Martin Cauchon won last year.