The Commissioner

Justice Normand Glaude 

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13 May 2008:  Commissioner calls for patience

11 April 2008: Argument Over Document Could Go To Higher Court

1992: Divisional court rules Glaude erred in acquittal in sex assault trial R v. Vallieres 

 20 April 05: early in the game when Justice Glaude was briefly touted as available and approachable

17 June 05 CBC Radio: audio file Glaude's first press conference - refuses to answer questions (requires RealPlayer)                                                         Free Real Player download

Justice Glaude's intriguing first picks for staff                                  Parties granted standing at the inquiry

18 October 2007: Preventing Child Sex Abuse  

The Controversy

Media coverage following the appointment of Justice Normand Glaude

(media articles listed below)

CBC.CA   News   -   Full   Story :
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Last Updated: May 11 2005 09:37 AM EDT

The judge appointed to lead the public inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse and cover-up in Cornwall has deep roots in the area, charge victims who have fought to get the examination.

Last month, Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant appointed Justice Normand Glaude to head up the long-awaited look into allegations that a ring of high-ranking officials, professionals and clergy sexually abused boys in the Cornwall area for decades.

The inquiry will examine how the justice system and other public institutions responded to the abuse allegations.

One of the reasons Bryant chose Glaude was because he's not from the Cornwall area. He was born in Sudbury, where he is currently the regional senior justice.

"No, I mean it was very important that the person involved not have any connection," Bryant said last month when he appointed Glaude. "He is from Sudbury and has been in Sudbury for some time now."

Bryant painted Glaude as an outsider, someone who would bring a "fresh perspective" to a troubled town.

But the attorney general didn't mention that Glaude's father was born in St. Raphaels, a few kilometres from Cornwall, nor that his grandparents were married in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall.

The discovery has upset people close to the inquiry, including victims like Ron Leroux:

"I feel like they're going to make another cover-up, or they're going to dance around it. They've been dancing around it for me since 1956," said Leroux.

"To discover that his family was, in fact, from the area only serves to instill suspicion and fear in the community, and I think that's counter-productive," said John Swales, who works for a London, Ont., law firm advising many of the Cornwall victims.

Glaude dismisses the connection.

He says he has no close relatives living in the Cornwall area now, and that Bryant didn't know about his family history because it wasn't pertinent.

"I think if people have any concerns, when we start the hearings, when we get the office set up, then put it on the record and we'll deal with it on the record," said Glaude.

Area MPP Jim Brownell says he has no doubts about Glaude's independence.

The attorney general will no longer comment on any aspect of the inquiry.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2006 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved 

canada news 
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005  

CORNWALL, Ont. (CP) - Confidence in the public inquiry examining longstanding allegations of a sex-abuse ring in this eastern Ontario city was shaken Wednesday with a charge that two of the alleged victims are relatives of the judge leading the probe. "It's difficult to see how somebody who will be hearing testimony . . . can sit in that capacity when somebody who is a relative is going to be testifying," said lawyer Paul Ledroit.

"It's not only that justice must be done, it must be seen to be done."

Murky allegations of a half-century of abuse at the hands of Catholic priests, lawyers and doctors have swirled in this community for years.

An affidavit sworn in 1996 by Ron Leroux, a 58-year-old painting contractor who lived in Cornwall but is now based in Maine, says as a boy he witnessed a 'clan' of pedophiles abusing young boys in a variety of ways. In one instance, he saw altar boys covered only in sheets circling a cottage in a candle ceremony as they were fondled and molested by several members of the clergy, Leroux's statement alleged. Leroux said the "ritual went on on a weekly basis." He alleges he was one of the victims. He says he was abused by several priests.

Police spent years trying to get to the bottom of the allegations in an investigation named Project Truth.

They laid 114 charges against 15 high-profile men in the 1990s, but the courts ultimately convicted just one man who had no connection to the alleged sex ring.

In wrapping up Project Truth, police said they found no evidence that a pedophile ring operated in the city.

The Ontario government hoped a public inquiry would bring some closure to a divided community.

But it hit a road block Wednesday before a date for its start has even been set.

On Wednesday, alleged abuse victims Ron and George Glaude came forward at a news conference where Ledroit announced 10 more civil lawsuits against clergy, school boards and the government.

Ledroit says the men are distant cousins of Justice Normand Glaude, the man who will lead the public probe.

"They, the people here, wanted the inquiry. They've lost faith in every institution that existed here. Are they now going to have faith in the inquiry?" said Ledroit.

"The don't want to be let down again," said Ledroit, whose firm Ledroit Beckett has now brought 16 suits on the matter before the courts.

Alain Seguin, co-ordinator of the group Coalition for Action Cornwall, estimates 1,000 men have been sexually abused in the city since

the 1950s. The hopes the community placed on an inquiry finally rooting out those responsible, even posthumously, has been undermined by Glaude's connection to the community, he said.

Michael Bryant, Ontario's attorney general, says he chose Glaude - who lives in Sudbury - because he has no connection to Cornwall.

But Seguin says Cornwall residents are now "very much concerned" with his selection.

"Mr. Bryant, on more than one occasion, told us that he would take great care in choosing a justice that would be impartial, that would not be connected to the area, that could bring confidence to the people," he said.

Bryant said Wednesday he still has faith in the independent process, adding it would be inappropriate for the government to contact Glaude now that the inquiry has been called.

"If people have questions for the commissioner, they should direct their questions to the inquiry," he said.

That was also the response from Glaude's spokeswoman Marie-Jose Lapointe, who said the public's concerns would be dealt with at commission hearings.

The enormous scope of the allegations of sexual abuse in Cornwall means Ledroit anticipates filing several more claims in coming weeks - including one directly against the Vatican.

That case involves a man who claims he was sexually abused by a bishop, a title that can only be bestowed by the Pope.

"If the inquiry were to show that... a rogue bishop came into this community and brought into this community sexually deviant priests, teachers... is the Vatican responsible for all that abuse then?" said Ledroit.

Ledroit expects to file suit against the Vatican within 30 days but recognizes no one has ever successfully sued the seat of the Roman Catholic Church on sexual abuse allegations.

An earlier attempt by Ledroit to sue the Vatican failed.

For the alleged victims, suing the institutions they believe are responsible for rampant sexual abuse is the first step to reclaiming their lives and Cornwall's reputation.

"Now is the time to come forward, to change things once and for all and make Cornwall new again," said Seguin.

© The Canadian Press, 2005

Concerns Raised Over Perceived Cornwall Connection To Justice Glaude (May 11, 2005)

Cornwall News AM 1220

Concerns have been raised that Justice Normand Glaude, who has been appointed to head the Project Truth inquiry into sex abuse allegations, has past family ties to the Cornwall region. The revelations have come as a surprise to those speaking on behalf of alleged sex abuse victims. It's been learned Mr. Glaude's father was born in St. Raphael's and his grandparents were married in the local diocese. This after the attorney general's office assured residents the justice chosen would not have any link to the community. Citizens for Community Renewal spokesman, Paul Scott tells Jewel 1220 News he is surprised to hear of the connection. London law firm advisor to alleged Cornwall victims, John Swayles tells Jewel 1220 News he is troubled by the discovery, "The Attorney General, I believe said that this gentleman had no connection to Cornwall. I certainly accept his statement that he has no connection today, but it is a concern that is going to be there and it will have to be, I think, cleared up in some way, shape or form." The attorney general's office says since an independent inquiry has been set up neither the Minister or the Ministry will make any further comments on it. Justice Glaude is the Regional Senior Justice in Sudbury - the community where he was born. The CBC reports that Mr. Glaude did not inform the attorney general's office of his family's connection because he has no close relatives living in the Cornwall area now he did not think it was pertinent. He has not been available for comment to the Jewel 1220 News Centre

Inquiry judge related to alleged Cornwall abuse victims 
Last updated Jun 9 2005 07:17 AM EDT
CBC News

 The inquiry into allegations of a sex-abuse ring that operated in Cornwall suffered a potential setback Wednesday with the revelation that the judge is a distant relative of two alleged victims. George and Ron Glaude came forward at a news conference Wednesday claiming they too were abused by members of an alleged ring of high-ranking officials, professionals and clergy that sexually abused boys in the Cornwall area for decades.

The Cornwall brothers are planning to file lawsuits against their alleged abusers within 10 days.

The Glaude brothers share a great-grandfather with Justice Normand Glaude, whom Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant appointed in April to head up the long-awaited examination of how the justice system and other public institutions responded to the abuse allegations.

A provincial police investigation called Project Truth resulted in 114 charges against 15 men, including doctors, lawyers and Catholic priests, but only one person was ever convicted.

When Bryant announced that Glaude would lead the inquiry, he said he was looking for someone with no connections in the Cornwall area.

In May, however, it was revealed that Normand Glaude's grandfather grew up in the area, and was married in the same diocese.

At the time Glaude said he had no close relatives currently living in the Cornwall area, and that Bryant didn't know about his family history because it wasn't pertinent.

This latest twist has renewed calls for the government to remove Glaude from the inquiry, but Bryant continues to back his appointment.

"People have questions for the commissioner, they should direct their questions to the inquiry," Bryant said Wednesday. "As for myself, facts are still to be determined, I have total confidence in Justice Glaude."

An official with the inquiry said any concerns about Glaude's suitability can be raised when the inquiry begins, which is currently scheduled for the fall.

Justice Glaude declined comment Wednesday. 

Last updated Jun 17 2005 03:41 PM EDT
CBC News

CORNWALL – The judge appointed to run an inquiry into an alleged sex-abuse ring in Cornwall will not step down, despite concerns he's in a conflict of interest.

Justice Norman Glaude reaffirmed his position Friday afternoon at his first news conference, where he announced that Peter

Engelmann will serve as commission counsel. The Ottawa lawyer, with the firm Sack Goldblatt Mitchell, has 23 years of experience working in human rights and labour relations.

It was the first time the Sudbury judge publicly faced questions about his familial connections to the Cornwall area. While not at ease and reluctant to answer the questions about his links to the area, he remained steadfast in his determination to head up the inquiry.

If he felt any slight doubt in his ability to be fair, Glaude said he would step down, and those who disagree will have to bring it up when the inquiry begins this fall.

Glaude was appointed by Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant in April to head up the long-awaited examination of how the justice

system and other public institutions responded to allegations that a ring of men sexually abuse boys in the Cornwall area for decades.

A provincial police investigation called Project Truth resulted in 114 charges against 15 men, including doctors, lawyers and Catholic priests, but only one person was ever convicted.

When Bryant announced that Glaude would lead the inquiry, he said he was looking for someone with no connections in the Cornwall area.

Sat, June 18, 2005

By MARK BELLIS, Sun Media

CORNWALL -- Already facing questions about his ties to the community, the judge leading the public inquiry into an alleged sex abuse ring is now under fire for alleged links to the Catholic Church.

In town to announce the lead council for the inquiry, Justice Normand Glaude dodged questions about his impartiality and his personal life.

With protesters in the next room waving red flags to symbolize the alleged "red flags" in Glaude's background, the Superior Court judge faced questions from the media about whether he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, knew the current Cornwall bishop or whether he was related to two alleged victims that share his last name.

Glaude was appointed in April to look into the handling of sex abuse allegations involving prominent members of the community and members of the Catholic Church which were investigated by the OPP in a probe dubbed Project Truth. The investigation resulted in 114 charges against 15 men, including doctors, lawyers and priests, but only one person was convicted.

Glaude would not say whether he is a Knight of Columbus. But he did say he didn't know Bishop Paul-Andre Durocher, nor did he know if the Glaude brothers were in fact related to him.

Brothers Ron and George Glaude, who recently identified themselves as abuse victims, said they were his second cousins.

Glaude said the mandate of the public inquiry "is a humongous one" and that he would have removed himself from it if he felt he could not do his job impartially.

"He should be replaced," said protester Carson Chisolm, brother-in-law of Perry Dunlop, the Cornwall cop who exposed the alleged sex ring 10 years ago.

Chisolm noted Durocher and Glaude were both students at University of Ottawa.

Glaude announced that the commission counsel for the inquiry would be Ottawa lawyer Peter Engelmann, who specializes in human rights, labour and charter law. His role will be similar to a Crown prosecutor's, asking questions of the witnesses that will testify at the inquiry.

No date for the inquiry was announced, but Glaude said a website would be set up to keep the public informed.

Judge won't resign from Cornwall sex inquiry
Residents angry after reports of his local connections
 
Hayley Mick
The Ottawa Citizen June 18, 2005

Judge Glaude was appointed in April by Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant to lead an inquiry into the investigation and prosecution of 15 high-profile Cornwall community members, including city officials, priests and lawyers. After the appointment, allegations were raised about a potential conflict of interest in light of the judge's ostensible ties to Cornwall.

Brothers Ron and George Glaude, 45 and 65, are among the alleged victims of a pedophile ring that operated in the Seaway city area for more than 40 years. A lawyer said they were the judge's great-nephews. 

Mr. Bryant said it was up to Judge Glaude to decide whether to recuse himself. Judge Glaude, who was born in, and now lives in Sudbury, said yesterday he didn't know whether he was related to the men. He refused to comment on the alleged connection, saying those issues will have to be raised during the inquiry. 

Several Cornwall residents were furious with his decision to continue. "It just reeks of sleaze," said Carson Chisholm, spokesman for the Red Flag committee, an ad hoc group opposed to the appointment. "It's just the last chapter of the coverup."

Many Cornwall residents feel a cloak of silence has been thrown over the decades of sexual abuse of children and the supposed failure of authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. They fear this same attitude is reflected in the appointment of a judge who has familial and professional connections to Cornwall. 

The provincial Liberals promised the inquiry in November after more than 100 charges against 15 men -- laid in the wake of the OPP's Project Truth -- came to nothing. Justice Glaude said he is preparing for the inquiry, which he hopes will officially begin in the new year. He is working on a budget proposal, and said no expense would be spared in what is expected to be a long hearing. 

© The Ottawa Citizen 2005. 

Group wants city judge to quit inquiry
Normand Glaude heading up inquiry into alleged sex abuse in Cornwall  By Bob Vaillancourt/The Sudbury Star

Local News - Tuesday, October 04, 2005 @ 11:00  

A formal court challenge may soon be launched to have Sudbury Judge Normand Glaude removed as chairman of a public inquiry into allegations of systemic sexual abuse in Cornwall.  

Carson Chisholm, of the Cornwall-based Red Flag Committee, said the group officially asked the judge to step down from the inquiry in a letter to him delivered last Friday.  The group has asked for response to the letter by mid-October.  Ontario Attorney General Michael Bryant announced Glaude’s appointment last spring. At the time, Bryant said Glaude was well-suited for the job because he had no connections with the community.  However, since then, two people have come forward to say they are related to Glaude.  

Ron and Charles Glaude, who both say they were victims of sexual abuse in the community, said their grandfather was the brother of Justice Normand Glaude’s grandfather.  That is just one concern the Red Flag Committee has raised, said Chisholm. The inquiry will be delving into whether there was a cover up of allegations of abuse by the attorney general’s office or local Cornwall officials, such as the Crown attorney’s office.  Because Glaude is a member of the Ontario bench, the attorney general employs him, Chisholm said.  

Glaude was also a member of the Ontario Police Commission, which is also likely to occupy some of the inquiry’s attention.  The attorney general’s office, which arranged for the inquiry, should not only do the right thing, but should be seen to do the right thing, said Chisholm, by removing Glaude, substituting a retired judge from another province. “Any question of bias by any kind of a reasonable person is reason enough for them to step aside.”  

But Marie-Josee Lapointe, a spokeswoman for the inquiry, said Glaude “has stated numerous times, very publicly that if he believes his impartiality was compromised in any way shape or form, he wouldn’t have taken on the assignment.”  Lapointe said Glaude has already told the committee that the time to raise concerns is when the commission opens.  “He stated in June, and he made it very clear, there was an appropriate time and place to raise these issues and that groups that have concerns should get their counsel to bring these matters up at that time and place, which is the commission hearings.”  

The judge has said many times that if there was anything that he felt would jeopardize his impartiality he would step down, Lapointe said. “This has not been the case.”  

That is not how members of the Red Flag Committee see it, said Chisholm. “We believe our apprehensions are reasonable,” he said.  “It’s the last chapter of the cover up as far as I am concerned.”  The committee is now considering making an application in court to have Glaude removed, he said.