Province cheques in- $3.2M;

Money will help pay city's public inquiry bill 

Cornwall Standard Freeholder 

Terri Saunders 

Saturday, February 24, 2007 - 10:00 

Front Page - Just over a year ago, city officials set up a contingency fund to cover $750,000 they expected to pay out because of the Cornwall Public Inquiry. 

On Friday, the provincial government announced it was cutting a cheque to the city for $3.2 million - the amount of money the municipality will have spent by March 31. 

"There have been some tough economical times in Cornwall recently," said Jim Brownell, MPP for Stormont, Dundas and Charlottenburgh. "I know the ratepayers have been very concerned about the costs associated with this important inquiry, so this is very good news for the community." 

Since hearings first began in November 2005, the city has incurred a bill of close to $3 million, mostly due to legal costs associated with the participation of the Cornwall Community Police Service as a party to the inquiry. 

The special assistance grant from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will cover costs up to the end of the fiscal year. The city and the province will also embark upon a "move forward" plan to address future costs as they occur. 

"The inquiry has been a necessary process for the people of Cornwall, but it has not been without cost," said John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "The government is pleased to assist the city with these extraordinary costs." 

Mayor Bob Kilger said he was pleased to hear the province had finally heeded the call that has been going out from city hall for some time. 

"This is such good news on such an important file," said Kilger. "You can't ask for anything more than 100 per cent." 

Kilger was quick to lay the bulk of the credit for the announcement at Brownell's feet, saying the MPP "worked tirelessly" on the issue. "The headline on this story should be, 'Brownell delivers,'" said Kilger, "because he really does." 

The Liberal MPP said while it's true he met with government officials, including Premier Dalton McGuinty and Attorney General Michael Bryant, time and time again in an effort to keep the issue alive at Queen's Park, he said credit is also due to the perseverance of city officials who never let the matter die. 

"A lot of credit goes to former Mayor Phil Poirier," said Jim Brownell. "He worked very hard on this and he made sure I kept everyone at Queen's Park aware of what was going on in Cornwall." 

The inquiry is expected to last at least another year and a framework will be put in place which will allow for provincial government ministers to be apprised of the continuing costs associated with the inquiry. 

"I don't think we're going to get into a situation where every month we're going to be negotiating with the province to pay the bills," said Kilger. "But we will be in contact with the ministers as the situation continues to evolve." 

The $3.2 million in costs is just the amount of money incurred by the city in relation to the inquiry. So far, the commission itself has spent $8 million which doesn't include lawyers fees for the various parties who have received funding from the province.