On February 19, 2004, an Order in Council was issued defining the terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities. Mr. Justice John H. Gomery was named Commissioner under Part I of the Inquiries Act.

According to the terms of reference, which are contained in the Order in Council, the Commission has been given a double mandate. The first requires the Commission to investigate and report on questions raised, directly or indirectly, by Chapters 3 and 4 of the November 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada. The second mandate calls upon the Commission to make recommendations to the Government of Canada, based upon its factual findings, to prevent mismanagement of sponsorship programs and advertising activities in the future.

Sheila-Marie Cook is the Executive Director and Commission Secretary. Bernard Roy, Q.C. is the Lead Counsel to the Commission. Neil Finkelstein is Co-Counsel, and Guy Cournoyer is Associate Counsel. Donald Savoie is the Special Advisor to the Commissioner and Director of Research.