Canadian rail supremo sacked

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has sacked the president of the country's passenger railroad, only days after he dismissed its chairman over a €74.5m spending scandal.

The scandal allegedly involves millions of dollars funnelled through government corporations and arms-length government institutions such as the railway to Quebec advertising agencies, for little or no work.

Marc LeFrancois is the second friend of former prime minister Jean Chretien appointed to a patronage job at Via Rail to be fired. Via Rail chairman Jean Pelletier was sacked earlier this week for ignoring whistleblowing by a former employee about Via’s role in the sponsorship scandal.