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the inquiry


Cornwall Public Inquiry

The Inquiry

No bang for inquiry buck

It was ignored by outside media

Cornwall Standard Freeholder  

18 February 2009

Posted By CLAUDE MCINTOSH

 

One of the incredible sidebars to the Cornwall Public Inquiry is how so much public money (an estimated $45 million) could be spent on an exercise so ignored by the outside world -that world being anything beyond a five-mile radius of the United Counties.

   

 It ranks as one of the longest (three years) and costliest public inquiries to be held in Canada.

And if Attorney-General Chris Bentley hadn't intervened, it would still be going on.

 

An attorney-general office source says folks in that department started worrying about the cost months before Bentley imposed a deadline.

 

The final straw came when cabinet ministers were told by bean counters to start finding projects to cut.

 

The only two media outlets to cover the inquiry on a regular basis were the Standard-Freeholder and Corus radio.

 

A couple of outside news organizations -Ottawa-based CTV and CBC -made cameo appearances, but they were few and far between.

 

Not even the Canadian Press wanted daily coverage after the first six months.

 

This wasn't the way it was expected to unfold.

 

But then again, the inquiry was expected to take 12 months.

 

In the beginning, there was wild speculation by some that this would be a huge media event capturing national attention.

 

One reporter, caught up in the frenzy, talked about writing a book when the inquiry wrapped up, and how her byline would be a ticket to prime time.

 

Another speculated that our wall-to- wall coverage, which was soon toned down, would boost daily readership by 400.

 

It didn't happen.

 

The fact is, as the inquiry lumbered aimlessly along, sometimes with boring expert testimony, Joe and Edith Public started to tune out.

 

Oh, there were moments of interest. Like the time Perry Dunlop and his supporters orchestrated their hero's grand entrance (are the cameras rolling yet?) at the inquiry then he refused to testify.

 

And the occasion when the author of the fabulous clan story admitted he fabricated the whole thing to please Perry -an admission that rattled commission lead counsel Peter Engelmann and shook the foundations of the alleged conspiracy.

 

There was much excitement about retired judge Gary Guzzo taking the stand.

 

He claimed to have solid information of young kids being used as playthings by prominent Cornwall and area men in a Fort Lauderdale motel.

 

Cross examination by the brilliant David Sherriff-Scott and Mike Neville turned his testimony into a train wreck.

 

Turned out Guzzo didn't have anything close to what he thought he had.

 

Asked why he made some of the allegations that fuelled the rumour mill, he blurted: "Nobody told me I was wrong."

 

The inquiry testimony is over and next up comes summations by institutional legal counsels.

 

Then, Commissioner Normand Glaude will start working on his report.

 

Given the length of the inquiry and the volumes of testimony, the Sudbury jurist will be pressed to deliver his report by the summer.

 

The problem Glaude faces is that the inquiry dealt with the way institutions handled sexual abuse cases many moons ago.

 

Clearly, many institutions of the era in question, when judged by today's standards, failed victims.

 And while this might not help heal the wounds suffered by victims, things have changed . . . for the better.

But, after spending $45 million-plus on a three-year inquiry, the commissioner has to be throwing the province a bone . . . he needs plenty of meat to match the cost.

 

Sadly, his report might become the world's most expensive doorstopper.

 Article ID# 1439378  


Comments

Simply my Opinion:


I would urge readers to tighten up “the reins” so-to-speak and to not get too excited about jumping down Claude’s throat for this most recent provocation.

I believe this poor man must be shown sympathy. I truly feel sorry for this man. This “column” by Claude is simply a re-summarization of multiple summarizations, he has written before. Obviously “sales” must be down, website visits must be down, arguments are down, and as he has correctly written, for various reasons since “the beginning”, no one else in the world, country, province, or region, has extensively covered this “Inquiry.” Gee, I wonder why?

Would anyone like to compare notes on “why” there has been little “outside” interest? In this column, Mr. McIntosh may be trying to delay his return to the “same old, same old”, sleepy “Seaway City” news. After all, the few “outside queries” that did take place, mostly always included an interview or quote by Mr. McIntosh. I guess it’s back to “freelance”. However, in today’s column, there is absolutely nothing new but “occupied space”, not even the blatant attempt to “fan-the-flames”. Chill out people! This is more like the ongoing sad and pathetic rantings we might see from “any” desperate writer, after they spent most of the weekend perched on a barstool.

Ha…Ha..Ha!! 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #1 By JAMES "SPEAK OUT"

For the most part James I would agree with you on Claude’s articles, and in this case I would have to say your recent posts here is no better then Claude’s.  He sides with victims and with your past opinions calling the tribunal a farce and again your choose to slander him.  It shows that no mater what anyone does you will never be happy unless you can complain. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #2 By itinerant

I don't of fen agree with Claude McIntosh, but he is right, what has this inquiry given to the victim's, reputations of some innocent people who had there names mentioned. Justice is supposed to be dispensed in a court of law not in a public inquiry. This inquiry was a farce from the beginning. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #3 By rkake

HERE HERE SO TRUE AND CERTAINLY CLAUDE SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THAT HIS PAPER AND HE HIMSELF DID A P POOR JOB OF COVERING THIS STORY. AS THEY DO OF ANY STORY THEY COVER. THIS INQUIRY DID BRING MANY THINGS TO LIGHT MOST IN OMY OPINION AS THAT WE DID HAVE A PROBLEM HERE AND SEVERAL FOLKS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN QUILITY GOT AWAY WITH IT AS A RESULT OF HOW POOR JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PERHAPS JUST THE FACT OF WHO THEY WERE. WE CERTAINLY SAW A GOOD SIDE OF HOW OUR SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND TO ME IT SHOWED HOW WE HAVE A MILL TOWN LEGAL SYSTEM AND GOOD OLD BOYS LEAGUE. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #4 By what justice,

Dear Clawd: You know I'm so sorry for throwing "stones" at poor little old you who still lives in the past or wherever it is you chose to live. CornHole deserves you and your writing has inspired me, I'm just not sure how right yet. I'm surely surprised that parts of your article didn't get "accidently deleted or hit with those notorious "tech glitches" but if you wait for a day or so, I'm sure you'll notice OUR comments will either be censored, deleted or the message will be changed just that little bit so that it changes the true body of the comment. If it hadn't have been for James, you would not have heard me talk so sweetly to you but seeing as how I am, can I come over and kiss your *ss pppppppppppppplease? The only problem with that though is that you are a complete *sshole and I wouldn't know where to kiss because you are well known for being just that, "complete"! Have a good day eh Clawd, you need one and give old Itinerant a big sloopy one too as he seems to be the only one who supports anything that you and your ilk speak about. Don't worry, he'll just love you for it but remember when you turn around in front of him, just don't bend over, that is unless you would enjoy the depths of the pleasures he would provide and from the screwing that this rag has done, it wouldn't surprise me. And James, thank you very much for the "Inspiration" and also your caring and direction in my reply to "Letters to The Editor". 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #5 By grimreaper_47

Oh..hello "rkake"..I figurred you would show up..sometime. "Brought on board", so-to-speak? Late arrival? (last couple of weeks) Okay, let's paly: Gee, is that what Mr. McIntosh wrote in his article or is this your interpretation of what he wrote? Of course, you proclaim "he is right". So, I guess that's it "rkake"; you've confirmed it!!!....NOT!!!

And I believe you provide this "confirmation i.e.) "he is right", from the perspective of, a devoted and obedient retired member of the "MUC" "police", "Montreal police", "civillian member" of the police or whatever you disclosed in previous "posts"? Or do you have some special source "guaranteeing and proving" your words as "absolute"?  Interesting how it seems your blogs deal in "absolutes". Have you noticed that? EX) "he is right".

In this article, could you please quote where he criticizes what this inquiry "gave or didn't give to the victims" (what about Phase II?)

Have you seen the proposals. Quite a gift, maybe a part-time job for you.

And, in this article, can you quote where Mr. McIntosh discusses the "reputations of some innocent people who had "their" names mentioned?"

YES, this article.

Or are you simply adding your "opinions", as opposed to "absolutes"?

Also strange, we use the "words" victims freely like it has been clearly defined what offences occurred and by whom....hello!!! Victims, don't you mean "alleged victims"? Oh, nice to "run in to you" again "rkake"....ha...ha...ha... 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #6 By JAMES "SPEAK OUT",

Oh good morning "Itinerant"; thanks for the input. Do you write for the newspaper? It appears that way.

I'll send a dictionary and thesaurus over right away, "to your attention". 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #7 By JAMES "SPEAK OUT",

James, in case you don't want to part with either your dictionary or your thesaurus, I would gladly contribute any of mine you wish to Itinerant. And hey Itinerant, I'd even deliver them personally to you if you wish, by the by do you know what a thesaurus is and is used for? As to your Post#2 Rant, I would have to say that James does do his research WELL and it's too bad you didn't do the same and by the way, "mater" is truly spelled MATTER! As for you saying he's just a complainer and that I'm an angry person, you're NUTS as we all know that anytime anyone has anything intelligent to say(Which is most times!) and you don't agree with it, then comes the name calling from a person that has proven time and again how truly stupid you are as well as being so off base and an *ss kisser to boot. You Itinerant are one of the very few people who I feel is wasting the good air that you breathe and to think that if you had to think to breathe, you'd be sh*t out of luck as you aren't that smart. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #8 By grimreaper_47,

James last time we spoke I worked for the CAS or was it CPS or no maybe I was a lawyer a teacher, oh wait no a priest *lol*.

One of the disadvantages of being obtuse is repeatedly speaking and saying nothing or repeating other peoples comments due to lack of intelligent.  Really Jim you should stop. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #9 By itinerant,

to save you some research time you qualify under 2

Obtuse 1 a: not pointed or acute : blunt b (1)of an angle : exceeding 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees (2): having an obtuse angle — see triangle illustration cof a leaf : rounded at the free end 2 a: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : insensitive , stupid b: difficult to comprehend : not clear or precise in thought or expression 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #10 By itinerant,

...sorry, James can't come out to play right now, he had to go to work.....p.s....make sure you properly quote your source. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #11 By JAMES "SPEAK OUT",

Websters1: DictionaryDictionary 1 : a reference source in print or electronic form containing words usually alphabetically arranged along with information about their forms, pronunciations, functions, etymologies, meanings, and syntactical and idiomatic uses

2 : a reference book listing alphabetically terms or names important to a particular subject or activity along with discussion of their meanings and applications

3 : a reference book giving for words of one language equivalents in another

4 : a computerized list (as of items of data or words) used for reference (as for information retrieval or word processing)  

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #12 By itinerant,

Yeh that's real cute there Rant, anybody can do that BUT unlike yourself, most everybody else doesn't need to research the word Dictionary. Just one thing though Rant, you were asked not about a Dictionary by grimreaper_47, BUT in fact about what a thesaurus was and was used for. The more you mouth off, it seems the deeper in sh*t you sink into or have you "bottomed out" already? You were saying????????????????????????????????????  

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #13 By booga-booga,

wELL WELL WELL BACK TO THE STORY...The reason people have stopped following the Inquiry.” is that justice was served one year ago..The local chicken little was put in JAIL...Story finished!!! 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #14 By 2 sides 2 a story,

So itinerants buddy two face comes out of the woodwork you two must work as a team? 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #15 By dodger,

The only coward is you two faced would like to see you stand in front of Perry Dunlop and call him a coward but I doubt if you have the balls to do that to a real man's face. Perry did the honourable thing he did his job you should do the other honourable thing and go jump off the bridge. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #16 By dodger,

I'm still in AWE!!!

As to how a local NOBODY's opinion makes it to being NEWS!!!

The outside media ignored it???

Ah come on Claude - give your head a shake!!!

It was the CBC (NATIONALLY) who first EXPOSED it!!!

NOT YOU!!!

What's NEW to report on a national level???

NOTHING - that's where they've gone!!!

Common sense and cost effectiveness - wouldn't you say?

Geez! 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #17 By RealityChecker,

Git some RealityChecker, git some!! Well 2Faced, now that you're on, where's your buddy Itinerant? And Clawd, there's nothin worse than a narrow minded so-called reporter in a small town constantly in denial unless it happens to be Itinerant. Nice talkin to ya again 2Faced, nice to see that you're still as far behind things as you ever were.

 Reply | Report | Page Top Post #18 By booga-booga,

Thank you 2 sides. I guess the lack of discipline while growing up has stayed with these people.
Now in certain cases they need to latch on to something negative to feel a sense of belonging as it is all they know. In this thread they choose Claude you and me. The reason is because we are the only people answering them. Here they congregate in a misery loves company scenario. The proof is in their posts.
Reality Checker can you prove that the first news report was made by CBC as you stated.

“The outside media ignored it???

 Ah come on Claude - give your head a shake!!!It was the CBC (NATIONALLY) who first EXPOSED it!!!


NOT YOU!!!”


He is right it was kind of hush hush for such a big inqiry 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #19 By itinerant,

Still can't spell worth a damn and still won't answer questions as usual, eh Rant. How can you stomach yourself any more than we can? 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #20 By booga-booga,

booger and grim reaper Sorry I do not see anything worth answering. It is all stupidity again. I know it is in English as I can recognize some of the words. But the way they are muddled together is senseless  The so called questions are again placed in the sentence, or attempt at a sentence, in a rhetorical manner. Maybe if you two would learn hoe to properly prepare a sentence people would understand what you are really talking about. As I said before if I missed a question, I mean an intelligent question please repost if you do not I can only assume you are trying to bait people to your lost cause of self pity. It is kind of humorous that any time a new person comes in all you people do is slander them and it is always the same people slandering. Oh wait read on! Booger thanks for post 20, it confirms my statement “Now in certain cases they need to latch on to something negative to feel a sense of belonging as it is all they know. In this thread they choose Claude you and me. The reason is because we are the only people answering them. Here they congregate in a misery loves company scenario. The proof is in their posts.” You may want to quit blaming everyone else in Cornwall and the rest of Canada and clean up your own act, as you can see there is a limited amount of credible people that really care. As for your stomaching things just swallow it. 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #21 By itinerant,

Ooooooooooooooooooooooh Itinerant, just who did you get to write that garble for you, ma? It's obvious that whack upside the head with a fry pan didn't quite do the trick, eh? As for equating me with you and Clawd, the only question I have for you is, if I'm taking the picture, who's on top this time, you, Clawd or his alias? 

Reply | Report | Page Top Post #22 By booga-booga,