STATEMENT OF G. NORMAND GLAUDE

COMMISSIONER, CORNWALL PUBLIC INQUIRY

MAY 12, 2008  

I HAVE A NUMBER OF PROCEDURAL AND PLANNING MATTERS TO GO OVER WITH YOU TODAY. I WILL BE COVERING BOTH PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 MATTERS.  

WE ARE MOVING THROUGH PLANNED INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE EVIDENCE. AS WE ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE EACH WITNESS AND EACH INSTITUTION AS SCHEDULED, IT IS PERHAPS ONLY HUMAN NATURE TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE BIG PICTURE.  

SO BEFORE I GET BACK TO SOME OF THE DETAILS NECESSARY TO THE MANAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC INQUIRY, LET’S LOOK AT THAT BIG PICTURE.  

 FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS, PEOPLE IN CORNWALL AND OUTSIDE CORNWALL RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT HISTORICAL SEX ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THOUSANDS SIGNED PETITIONS FOR AN INQUIRY. CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTED AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY. THE ELECTED GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO RESPONDED BY ESTABLISHING THIS INQUIRY.  

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AND, AFTER DOING SO, THE QUESTION BECOMES – WHAT IS THIS INQUIRY TO ACCOMPLISH?  

AS COMMISSIONER OF A PUBLIC INQUIRY, I AM BEHOLDEN TO NO INTEREST. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO HAVE MY THOUGHTS – DIRECTLY – ON THE KIND OF INQUIRY I AM WORKING TO ENSURE WE HAVE HERE IN CORNWALL.  

THIS IS AN INQUIRY THAT WILL BE THOROUGH AND LOOK AT MATTERS METHODICALLY AND CAREFULLY. THIS MEANS WE WILL TAKE THE TIME NEEDED TO DO IT RIGHT. I WILL NOT BE DEFLECTED FROM DOING MY WORK WITH DILIGENCE. I WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED FROM ENSURING MY WORK IS COMPLETE.  

WE ARE HERE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF DIVISIVE AND HEART-WRENCHING ISSUES THAT HAVE TROUBLED THIS COMMUNITY. DOING THIS RIGHT TAKES TIME AND MONEY. NOT DOING IT RIGHT IS A DISSERVICE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED THESE ISSUES FOR DECADES.  WE ARE HERE TO MAKE PROGRESSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I HOPE MAY CHANGE PUBLIC POLICY. WE ARE HERE TO FIND THE GOOD IDEAS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE HERE TO FIND OUT HOW TO REDUCE ABUSE, HOW TO RESPOND WHEN IT HAPPENS, HOW TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT SERVICES FOR THOSE NEEDING HELP. WE ARE HERE  

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TO FULLY EQUIP PROFESSIONALS TO HANDLE REPORTS OF HISTORICAL OR CURRENT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE.  

AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE CORNWALL EXPERIENCE CAN HELP OTHER COMMUNITIES, OTHER PROFESSIONALS, OTHER SURVIVORS, OTHER CHILDREN.  

AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THIS INQUIRY, I HOPE THOSE FOLLOWING OUR WORK FULLY WILL BE ABLE TO SAY:                       

   I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED                                                 

I UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES THAT ARE NEEDED TO REDUCE ABUSE AND RESPOND WELL WHEN IT HAPPENS                                                 

 I FEEL PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND AS PART OF A COMMUNITY                                                 

 I KNOW THE “LESSONS LEARNED” AND HOW THEY CAN HELP OTHERS.  

BUT WHEN WE REACH THIS POINT, WHEN MY REPORT IS RELEASED, IT IS YOU WHO WILL JUDGE THIS INQUIRY’S WORTH. I WANT YOU TO DO THAT WITH THE INTENSE SCRUTINY THE SUBJECT MATTER AND THE  

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UBLIC INVESTMENT DESERVES. BUT I HOPE AND EXPECT WISE PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MIND WILL WAIT FOR THE INQUIRY TO COMPLETE ITS WORK BEFORE PASSING JUDGEMENT – WILL WAIT FOR ALL THE EVIDENCE TO BE HEARD, THE SUBMISSIONS TO BE MADE AND THE REPORT RELEASED.  

SO THESE ARE MY VIEWS ON THE BIG PICTURE. THE WORK OF THIS INQUIRY-- THE PUBLIC’S INQUIRY -- WILL STAY ON TRACK. IN DOING THIS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MINDFUL OF THOSE EXPENDITURES WITHIN OUR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY. WE HOPE THAT THOSE EXPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS THAT ARE NOT UNDER THIS INQUIRY’S DIRECT OVERSIGHT WILL EXERCISE SIMILAR CARE.  

I WILL NOW TURN TO SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS INQUIRY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP US ON TRACK.  

WE HAVE BEEN FINALIZING OUR HEARINGS SCHEDULE. COMMISSION COUNSEL HAVE DISCUSSED REQUESTS BY THE COUNSEL FOR PARTIES FOR BREAKS, BOTH FOR PREPARATION AND FOR PERSONAL PURPOSES. WE HAVE ADDED SOME TIME AND SOME DAYS TO BE AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE SITTING THROUGH MOST OF MAY, JUNE AND JULY AND HAVE SCHEDULED HEARING DATES IN THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST AND UP TO SEPTEMBER 12. SUBSEQUENT DATES WILL BE SCHEDULED AS NEEDED. WE WILL ALSO SCHEDULE TIME TO GIVE 

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DIRECTIONS ON PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 SUBMISSIONS. I EXPECT TO COMPLETE HEARINGS THIS YEAR – BUT REMEMBER, NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF SACRIFICING QUALITY. IF THE UNEXPECTED CROPS UP AND DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION, WE WILL RESPOND. WE DO NOT INTEND TO “WALK BY” – IT IS OUR JOB TO BE THOROUGH.  

TO BE EFFICIENT, WITHOUT SHORTCHANGING THE NEED TO HAVE A FULL EVIDENTIARY PICTURE IN PLACE, I URGE COUNSEL FOR INSTITUTIONS TO WORK WITH COMMISSION COUNSEL IN PLANNING FOR INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TESTIMONY. THIS SHOULD INCLUDE ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF WITNESSES TO ENSURE THE FLOW OF INFORMATION IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. COUNSEL SHOULD MONITOR PROGRESS AND ANTICIPATE CHANGING DATES. THE LIST OF WITNESSES IS A RUNNING LIST. TESTIMONY AT AN INQUIRY IS NOT LIKE TELEVISION WITH DEFINED TIMES TO START AND FINISH PROGRAMS. WE WILL DO OUR BEST ON SCHEDULING BUT FLEXIBILITY IS REQUIRED TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND BE EFFICIENT.  

OVER THE NEXT MONTH, WE WILL COMPLETE THE INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE OF THE CORNWALL COMMUNITY POLICE SERVICE AND MOVE ON TO THE REMAINING INSTITUTIONS, FOLLOWING THE ORDER ESTABLISHED MANY MONTHS AGO. I KNOW PLANNING IS WELL ADVANCED FOR THE EVIDENCE OF SEVERAL UPCOMING INSTITUTIONS AND THANK COUNSEL FOR THEIR COOPERATION.

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I WOULD COMMENT THAT IN SOME INSTANCES, AS WE MOVE THROUGH EVIDENCE OF MORE INSTITUTIONS, COUNSEL FOR SOME PARTIES WILL CORRECTLY CONCLUDE THAT THEIR PERSONAL ATTENDANCE ON A REGULAR BASIS IS NOT NECESSARY. INDEED, I COMMEND COUNSEL’S CONSIDERATION OF THE COST TO THE PUBLIC.  

I WILL NOW TURN TO PHASE 2. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, I MADE A DECISION REGARDING A PROCESS OF INFORMAL TESTIMONY. I INDICATED I HAD DIRECTED MY ADVISORY PANEL TO BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WISHED TO TELL THEIR STORY IN A NON-EVIDENTIARY ENVIRONMENT. AND I DIRECTED THEM TO MAKE THIS EXPERIENCE SUPPORTIVE, TO ENSURE IT IS ONE OPPORUNITY FOR PERSONAL HEALING. THIS OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE TOUCHED BY THIS INQUIRY.  

I AM PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON IMPLEMENTING THE DECISION I ANNOUNCED AND INTEND TO BE UP AND OPERATIONAL AS EARLY AS MID JUNE. WE ARE PLANNING TRAINING IN MAY, OBTAINING OUR FACILITIES AND WILL BE POSTING ONLINE INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THOSE CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION. OUR CONTACT FOR THIS WORK WILL BE COLLEEN PARRISH WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF MY ADVISORY PANEL. SHE WOULD BE PLEASED TO SIT DOWN AND PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION TO ANY INTERESTED COUNSEL, AS WELL AS PROVIDING

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INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN A PROCESS OF TELLING ONE’S STORY IN AN INFORMAL CONTEXT.  

SINCE WE ARE MOVING INTO AN OPERATIONAL PHASE, I WANT TO FORMALLY COVER A FEW MATTERS. PART OF MY MANDATE IS TO PROVIDE FOR OPPORTUNITIES APART FROM FORMAL EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS. I HAVE CHOSEN TO DO THIS AND ANNOUNCED MY DECISION. IN CONSIDERING THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH ARE NOT EVIDENTIARY IN NATURE, I HAVE BALANCED MANY CONSIDERATIONS. 

COMMISSIONERS HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE PROCEDURES WITHIN INQUIRIES. I BELIEVE THE HEALING FUNCTION OF GIVING INFORMAL TESTIMONY IS BEST SERVED BY ENSURING A PRIVATE MEETING PLACE AND A PRIVATE PROCESS. I WANT NO FEAR OF INTRUSION TO OCCUR FOR THOSE COMING FORWARD. I HAVE DIRECTED MY ADVISORY PANEL AND STAFF OF THIS INQUIRY TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS THE CASE BY PROTECTING PRIVACY. I WANT ALL COUNSEL AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THIS AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A NON-EVIDENTIARY PROCESS MEANS THAT WHAT IS TALKED ABOUT IN THESE SESSIONS CANNOT BE USED IN CIVIL LITIGATION OR TO MAKE ANY FINDING OF WRONGDOING AT THIS INQUIRY.  

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FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE, ANONYMOUS SUMMARIES OF THEIR ACCOUNT GIVEN IN THE INFORMAL TESTIMONY PROCESS WILL BE PREPARED AND PUBLISHED AS PART OF THE REPORT ON PHASE 2 OF THIS INQUIRY. I WILL NOT SEE THESE ACCOUNTS UNTIL THE PHASE 1 REPORT IS COMPLETE AND SENT FOR PUBLICATION. BUT I ASSURE YOU, I WILL READ THESE ACCOUNTS WHEN I AM ABLE TO DO SO, AND IN THE MONTHS AHEAD, I HOPE THAT THIS PROCESS OF INFORMAL TESTIMONY WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING, A MEANINGFUL STEP ALONG A LIFE JOURNEY.