Albert Lalonde

 Albert Lalonde alleges he was sexually abused by Father Charles MacDonald 

10 May 2007: Glaude to decide on blocking documents & 09 May 2007 F-O-I Act vs Inquiry Act

Affidavit for Standing and Funding with the Victims Group

IN THE MATTER OF THE PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS
SURROUNDING THE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE OF YOUNG
PEOPLE IN CORNWALL, ONTARIO
AND
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR STANDING AND
FUNDING FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ABUSE

AFFIDAVIT OF ALBERT LALONDE

I, ALBERT LALONDE, of the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, in the Province of Ontario, MAKE OATH AND SAY AS FOLLOWS:

1.  I am one of the group of victims (hereinafter referred to as "Victims Group") who was sexually abused in the Cornwall area.

2.  In 1969, at the age of eleven, I was sexually abused by Father Charles MacDonald. This abuse continued for two years.

3.  The Victims Group seeks standing at this Inquiry to ensure that the perspective of the Victims Group is brought before the Inquiry.

4.  As a victim of sexual abuse, my perspective includes the following:
 
a. When I reported the sexual abuse to the authorities through written and videotaped statements, they did not take me seriously. Despite questioning my family physician who informed them of my abuse, the authorities told me that I would not be able to bring charges against Father MacDonald. As a victim of sexual abuse, I felt persecuted not protected by the authorities.

b. At no time did the Church offer me any support or counselling to deal with the consequences of the abuse.

c. When the Church knew or ought to have known about Father MacDonald's sexual misconduct, they should have stopped him from hurting other children.

   
Impact of the Abuse

5.  I was raised in a family of devout Catholics. However, as a result of this sexual abuse, I have had a total loss of my Catholic faith.

 6.  I have lost the innocence of my childhood.

7.  I was unable to keep up my studies at school and eventually dropped out due to my emotional trauma as a result of the abuse.
 

8. In order to cope, I turned to drugs and became addicted when I was a teenager.

9. I could not concentrate at work and this affected my job performance. I have had difficulties keeping a job.

10. Financially, I have struggled to support my family.

11. The depression and anxiety that I have experienced has been debilitating and has lead to various hospitalizations.

12. I have had to deal with suicidal thoughts. Often, I am overwhelmed with feelings of frustration.

13. My inability to be intimate with those I love has cost me relationships. I am currently unable to have sexual relations with my spouse.

14. I was abused and I reported it to the authorities but it was  too little, too late. They did not believe me and did not complete a thorough investigation into the allegations that I made. I have lost trust in authority figures and institutions.
 
Failings of the Institutional Response

15.  The criminal charges against Father MacDonald were dismissed due to Charter violations.

16.  Twice I tried to bring criminal charges against Father MacDonald. I was interviewed by Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Dupuis. I gave a videotaped statement and a written statement.

17.  I also went to the Cornwall Police department where I gave a videotaped statement to Officer Jeff Carole.

18.  Despite giving this evidence and Officer Carole's assurance that he would bring the matter to the attention of the Crown Attorney, I was informed by the police that I could not proceed with the charges against Father MacDonald because I never discussed the sexual abuse with my family physician.

19.  The police went to my family physician and reported to me that he told them that I did not discuss the abuse with him. However, when asked, my family physician told me that he spent one and a half hours with the police telling them what I had told him.

20.  The police also told me that there would be no point in proceeding with criminal charges against MacDonald because the police felt that I could not identify him.

21.  I verily believe that the actions of the police, when I tried to bring charges against MacDonald, were ones of intimidation. They acted in a biased way against me because they were the same officers who came to question me about other non-sexual related criminal matters.

22.  I am poorly educated and a low income wage earner as a result of the abuse and, as such, the police have treated me poorly. They have questioned my credibility and have failed me as a victim.

23.  I believe that further details of my first hand experience as a victim dealing with the Cornwall police and justice system, which is the focus of Part I of this Inquiry, would be beneficial information for the Inquiry. I believe that my experiences and those of other victims must be canvassed by the Inquiry in order for it to fulfill its mandate.

24.  My detailed experiences dealing with the police and justice institutions could be obtained by my testimony or the provision of a summary of my experiences. The provision of either would be most effective if counsel were provided to me as it would be to other victims.
 
Clinical Support

25.  I am currently receiving psychological help in dealing with the abuse that I endured at the hands of Father Charles MacDonald.

26.  I am not satisfied with the level of support that I am currently receiving. The level of resources available to the victims of sexual abuse is limited and based on the coverage that the victim has.

27.  I verily believe that victims of sexual abuse who struggle to deal with issues of trust should be able to seek individual counselling with qualified counsellors of their choosing.

28.  I verily believe that I will continue to require psychological support and counselling to help me deal with the emotional trauma I have suffered as a result of the abuse.

Standing

29.  As a first hand victim of sexual abuse, I verily believe that it is crucial that my perspective be brought before the Inquiry. Therefore, I have a direct interest in the outcome of this Inquiry and, as part of the Victims Group, have a substantial interest in ensuring the objectives of this Inquiry are met.
 
30. I further understand that I have the potential for a civil action or application for criminal injuries compensation and that those legal rights may be impacted by my participation within the Inquiry. Accordingly, I believe that I need access to legal counsel, as do other victims like me, in order to fairly participate without detrimental impact upon my civil and administrative remedies.

31. Having personally experienced the depths of the impact of sexual abuse and the related institutional failings, I, like other victims have the greatest motivation to see the system corrected and improved.

32. I strongly believe that there is no greater advocate for systematic improvement of the treatment, handling, and prosecution of sexual abuse cases than the victims themselves.

Funding

33. One of the devastating effects of my sexual abuse has been
my inability to maintain gainful employment. I have been clinically diagnosed with panic and anxiety with depression. As such, I am currently receiving benefits from Ontario Disability Support Program and Canada Pension Plan in the monthly amount of $949.00. This is my only source of income. Therefore, in order to participate and be adequately represented at the Cornwall Inquiry I require that Ledroit Beckett, as my counsel of choice, receive funding to represent my interests without which I would otherwise be unable to participate in the Inquiry.

SWORN BEFORE ME at the City of Cornwall, in the United County of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, this 18th day of October, 2005

A Commissioner, etc.
                                                                                                    Albert Lalonde