OTTAWA, Dec. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- John Gomery, the Canadian judge who prepared the report on the sponsorship scandal which led to the toppling of Prime Minister Paul Martin and his government, on Monday was voted as the top newsmaker of 2005.

    In the annual poll of the country's newsrooms by The Canadian Press and Broadcast News, Gomery garnered 95 of 166 votes, a landsliding win.

    The first volume of Gomery's report, released Nov. 1 after months of dramatic hearings, helped bring down Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government, plunging the country into a rare winter election campaign.

    The report found that former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and some of his officials were responsible for the misuse of millions of dollars set out for a federalism promotion program in the separatist province of Quebec more than 10 years ago.

    Though the report exornerated Prime Minister Paul Martin, then Chretien's finance minister, of any wrongdoing, the opposition parties succeeded in punishing the Liberals by toppling Paul Martin with a motion of non-confidence on Nov. 28.

    The inquiry made Gomery a household name and a familiar face on TV screens across the land. At the age of 73, Gomery had toiled inrelative anonymity since 1982 as a judge of Quebec Superior Court.

    He is expected to deliver a second report on Feb. 1 outlining proposed political and bureaucratic reforms to avert future scandals.

    The CP-BN year-end surveys have traditionally chosen politicians,and quite often prime ministers. But this year Prime Minister Paul Martin came in only fifth.

    The Gomery commission and its fallout was also picked as the top news story of 2005. Enditem