THE CORNWALL PUBLIC INQUIRY 

The Honourable G. Normand Glaude, Commissioner

L’ENQUÊTE PUBLIQUE SUR CORNWALLL’honorable G. Normand Glaude, commissaire 

PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

November 28, 2007 

Financial facts on the Cornwall Public Inquiry (Cornwall, ON)

As part of his regular updates to the public, Commissioner Normand Glaude today provided an overview of expenditures by the Cornwall Public Inquiry. To the end of October, 2007 these expenditures were $11.96-million. By the end of the Commission’s fiscal year – March 31, 2008 - the total spent and budgeted is $16.1-million. 

These expenditures include Commission counsel, staff, investigators and experts as well as office overhead and costs associated with the hearing processes such as the hearings room, webcast, translation, document management and distribution and communications. It covers policy and research expenses as well as counselling and witness support.

The Inquiry, which began in 2005, was mandated by the Ministry of the Attorney General to inquire into the institutional responses to allegations of abuse and to make appropriate recommendations for community reconciliation and healing. 

The Commissioner’s update is the twelfth in an on-going series of statements that reflect his commitment to keeping the public informed. The statement was delivered just before the Inquiry begins its last phase of evidentiary hearings: institutional response to allegations of sexual abuse of children and youth.

In addition to covering the direct costs of the Cornwall Public Inquiry, the Commissioner noted that he had recommended to the Ministry of the Attorney General that it provide full or partial funding to eight parties at the Inquiry. The Ministry had agreed to this funding, as well to his recommendations to fund legal services of several witnesses who were not parties. “The total payments for all parties or individuals recommended by me to receive funding and who had submitted payments for funded services by the end of October was $2.75 million,” the Commissioner said. Payment was made by the Ministry of the Attorney General.

In his statement, Commissioner Glaude underlined his on-going commitment to ensure that public dollars are spent prudently and appropriately. “Inquiries are designed to address complex issues and this takes time. They grapple with sensitive matters and this touches on dispute and conflict and heartbreak – and this also takes time. And time costs money. I am well aware that a public inquiry is publicly funded. My decisions and approach balance thoroughness in addressing complex and sensitive matters with efficiency and economy,” the Commissioner said in his statement.

So far, Phase 1 (evidentiary/investigative phase) of the Inquiry has heard from 85 witnesses, and has held 167 hearing days. 

Phase 2, which examines ways to create an environment to foster healing and reconciliation in the Cornwall community has undertaken a broad range of research, workshops and training opportunities in Cornwall. Through the Commission’s Advisory Panel, outreach activities have included town halls, community and neighbourhood meetings and consultations. Both Counselling Support and Witness Support are offered through Phase 2 of the Inquiry. To date, 260 people have contacted the Cornwall Public Inquiry to seek Counselling Support.

The Inquiry expects to complete evidentiary hearings by July 2008. 

The full text of the Commissioner’s statement can be found on the Inquiry website athttp://www.cornwallinquiry.ca/ under ‘What’s New’ on the home page. 

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For more information: 

(613) 294-5679