Brownell says he'll help - city just has to ask

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

O9 November 2007

Terri Saunders

Jim Brownell says he's ready to re-enter the fight for Cornwall Public Inquiry cash from the province.

"If city council members ask me to advocate for them on this issue at Queen's Park, I'm more than ready to do so," the Liberal MPP said Thursday. "Representing the citizens in my riding and bringing their concerns to Toronto is what I got into this job to do."

Brownell was reacting to calls from many city councillors suggesting the provincial government should scratch a 60/40 cost-share deal it struck with lawyers for the Cornwall Community Police Service this past spring for legal representation at the inquiry and cut another cheque equal to 100 per cent of the costs.

In February, Brownell hand-delivered a cheque for $3.2 million from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to cover all of the costs incurred by taxpayers between the start of the inquiry in the fall of 2005 and March 31, 2007.

The money came after much lobbying on the part of municipal officials, Brownell said, and he threw a lot of praise in the direction of former mayor Phil Poirier, saying it was pressure from the mayor's office which seemed to move the file along at Queen's Park.

"Phil Poirier was definitely the strongest advocate on this issue," said Brownell. "He was very aggressive in seeking financial help from the province in terms of the cost of the inquiry to taxpayers and he made presentations at Queen's Park during which he said the taxpayers couldn't afford to pay this bill."

Brownell said he is planning to meet with current Mayor Bob Kilger in the very near future and the inquiry bill will be on the agenda.

"In the past, this community has had strong advocates pushing for this to be taken care of," said Brownell. "I'm confident the mayor and council will continue to advocate for this issue to be addressed, and I will be there with them every step of the way."

Brownell said he was aware in the early part of the year a "move forward" plan would have to be put in place after the province delivered the $3.2 million payment.

"I was under the impression this would involve discussions between lawyers," said Brownell, referring to the fact the cost share formula was decided upon by attorneys representing city police at the inquiry and representatives from the Ministry of the Attorney General. "I knew they would be working towards some sort of agreement as to how these bills would be paid, but I wouldn't have been privy to any discussions of a legal nature."

Representatives from the Ministry of the Attorney General said Thursday they would be in a position today to comment on the funding formula.

Inquiry officials deferred questions to the ministry.