Northern and Indian Affairs Minister Jean Chertien (third from left) and other Liberal cabinet ministers are shown at a swearing-in ceremony in Ottawa in this Nov.27, 1972 photo. The federal government was aware of problems with its advertising tenders more than 30 years ago but decided against a recommendation to clean up the contracting process. That’s just one revelation from 1971 cabinet minutes made public Wednesday that bear striking similarities to issues now bedevilling the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chretien. (CP PHOTO/Chuck Mitchell)