Allegations The Premier's Office Influenced Abuse Investigations

November 23, 2007 — The Cornwall Public Inquiry has heard allegations that local abuse investigations were influenced by the premier's office. A meeting between former Ottawa area M-P-P Garry Guzzo and O-P-P Detective Inspector, Pat Hall came under the spotlight. Mr. Guzzo says he met with Mr. Hall in 2000 and they talked about who might be charged in relation to child sex abuse allegations in our area. Guzzo says he asked whether or not former Bishop, Eugene Larocque was on the list. Mr. Guzzo says Mr. Hall answered "no" and then told him to go and ask "his premier" if he wanted to know why. (Hear audio clip below) Mr. Larocque was never charged. Guzzo says every place he looked, the chain of command was broken and that's why he went to the O-P-P.

Guzzo points finger at former bishop; Former MPP testifies OPP officer said he had proof of hotel visits

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

23 November 2007

Posted By Terri Saunders

A senior OPP officer told an MPP he had proof a now-retired Catholic bishop frequented a hotel in Florida believed to be a haven for pedophiles, the MPP told the Cornwall Public Inquiry Thursday.

Garry Guzzo, a former judge and MPP for the riding of Ottawa West-Nepean, said he met with Det. Insp. Pat Hall several years ago when Hall was working on an investigation known as Project Truth.

Guzzo said Hall, who has since retired from the OPP, was part of a team looking into allegations several prominent area men had systematically abused young boys in the Cornwall area in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It was in this capacity Guzzo met with him to discuss the "Cornwall situation."

Guzzo said he spoke with Hall about registration slips from the Saltaire Motel, a seedy hangout in an area of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. known to attract male prostitutes and alleged child molesters.

Guzzo had previously met with a retired police chief in Fort Lauderdale who introduced him to an employee of the motel. That employee said he had many registration slips he believed to be of interest to people in the Cornwall area and suggested they were for sale.

When Guzzo met with Hall, he asked the officer if he knew about allegations some of the slips indicated Bishop Eugene LaRocque had stayed at the motel on occasion. Guzzo said Hall "patted a briefcase" he had with him and said he had them in his possession.

"I didn't see them," said Guzzo. "I didn't want to see them."

Guzzo said he began to talk to Hall about whether or not LaRocque was being investigated in relation to any criminal activity that might have taken place in Florida. Guzzo said Hall suggested any incidents which took place in Florida would have to be "handled down there," and indicated not much could be done in Ontario.

Guzzo said he was dismayed by Hall's response and wondered why any information gathered about LaRocque was being dismissed.

"He said, 'Ask your premier (Mike Harris)," said Guzzo.

"What do you think he meant by that?" asked Peter Engelmann, lead commission counsel.

"I took it to mean the investigation was being quarterbacked by the premier's office," said Guzzo.

Throughout testimony this week, Guzzo has suggested he had a troubled relationship with Harris as the backbencher repeatedly attempted to get his government to call an inquiry into police investigations in Cornwall.

In the fall of 1998, Guzzo wrote a letter to Harris suggesting the Cornwall situation was spiraling out of control and the government needed to step in and take a closer look at how police investigations were being carried out.

Guzzo said near the end of 1998, he and Harris met, had a couple of drinks and the Cornwall situation came up in conversation.

"He said, 'You're causing a lot of trouble and you're more trouble than you're worth and I'm fed up with it,'" said Guzzo. "I said, 'Well, just deal with the situation.' You know, 'Just deal with the situation. We've got a problem."

Guzzo also testified Thursday video tapes alleged to show now-deceased probation officer Ken Seguin engaged in sexual activity with an alleged victim may still be floating around. Tapes were seized by police at the home of Ron Leroux, a former city man who has claimed he was sexually assaulted by two city priests and by LaRocque. No one has ever been charged in relation to Leroux's claims.

Leroux has said in the past the tapes belong to Seguin and he believed them to be pornographic movies made by the late probation officer. Leroux also testified he was told by police officers the tapes had been destroyed.

On Thursday, Guzzo testified at least some of the tapes were believed to have remained intact and were in the possession of a citizens group in recent years.

The inquiry will resume Monday afternoon when it's expected Doug Seguin, Ken Seguin's brother, will take the stand. Following Seguin's testimony, Guzzo is expected to return for what is anticipated will be a lengthy cross-examination.