That was then: Cornwall inquiry hears problems of the past have largely been fixed

Winnipeg Free Press

25 February 2009

By: Allison Jones, THE CANADIAN PRESS ·

12:20 PM |

"There were many things done or not done in the past that when you look at them today seem illogical and primitive," Michele Allinotte, representing the agency's local branch, told the Cornwall inquiry.

In the 1960s people didn't think that using seatbelts could save lives and were oblivious to the dangers of second-hand smoke, said Allinotte. Society has come a long way since then, and the Children's Aid Society is not an exception, she said.

"When viewed with today's eyes, some of the past actions of the CAS and other institutions seems deeply flawed, even shocking and ignorant," Allinotte said.

"(But) long before inquiry began, many of the problems discussed in evidence here had been addressed and corrected."

The Cornwall inquiry has spent three years and $40.8 million investigating institutional responses to sex abuse allegations decades ago.

The Children's Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is just one of many institutions at the centre of the probe to tell the inquiry: that was then and this is now.

The inquiry has heard testimony from former Children's Aid Society wards that they were allegedly sexually abused at the time by caseworkers and foster parents.

Allinotte said there was no standard for child sex abuse investigations at the time, but the agency has since made many changes.

She highlighted several further recommendations made at the inquiry for changes to agency procedures, including that two workers be involved in all client relations and that a worker should not be allowed to investigate abuse claims in which they had a personal involvement.

While not the mandate of the inquiry, allegations of a pedophile ring operating in the city have been often discussed. A provincial police investigation dubbed Project Truth laid 114 charges against 15 people but found no evidence of such a ring. Only one person was ever convicted.

The Ministry of the Attorney General had come under fire for the perceived failed prosecutions.

On Tuesday, a lawyer for the ministry told the inquiry about changes the Crown attorney's office has since made. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services also said Tuesday that the ministry has since changed many policies.

Ontario Provincial Police were to present oral submissions Wednesday afternoon, and in written submissions the force echoes the Children's Aid Society sentiments that the agency today is a very different agency than it was at the time of Project Truth.

CAS offers 'deep regrets' at Project Truth inquiry

Ottawa Sun

25 February 2009

By Sun Media

CORNWALL - The Children's Aid Society offered its “deep regrets” this morning to any former foster children who were harmed while in the agency's care.

CAS lawyer Michele Allinotte told the Cornwall Public Inquiry the agency's local branch had “shortcomings” but maintained its policies have evolved greatly since the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

“We acknowledge that the CAS did, at times, fail to respond appropriately to certain matters addressed here at the inquiry,” said Allinotte.

Today is the third day of final submissions at the inquiry, which has been examining how institutions responded to allegations of historical sexual abuse.

Multiple witnesses testified at the inquiry about the systemic physical, sexual and emotional abuse they allege they experienced at Cornwall-area group homes and foster homes over the past four decades. They also related problems they encountered gaining access to their personal records.

While some CAS practices in the past were “deeply flawed, even shocking and ignorant,” Allinotte said the inquiry must consider whether its response was appropriate given what society's standards were at the time.

“We thought it was reasonable and acceptable to punish children in school by hitting them on the hand with a leather strap,” said Allinotte. “As we all know, there were many things done – or not done – in the past that, when we look at them today, seem illogical and primitive.”

That was then: Cornwall inquiry hears problems of the past have largely been fixed

canadaeast.com

Published Wednesday

25 February 2009

Allison Jones, THE CANADIAN PRESS

"When viewed with today's eyes, some of the past actions of the CAS and other institutions seems deeply flawed, even shocking and ignorant," Allinotte said.

"(But) long before inquiry began, many of the problems discussed in evidence here had been addressed and corrected."

The Cornwall inquiry has spent three years and $40.8 million investigating institutional responses to sex abuse allegations decades ago.

The Children's Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is just one of many institutions at the centre of the probe to tell the inquiry: that was then and this is now.

The inquiry has heard testimony from former Children's Aid Society wards that they were allegedly sexually abused at the time by caseworkers and foster parents.

Allinotte said there was no standard for child sex abuse investigations at the time, but the agency has since made many changes.

The Ministry of the Attorney General had come under fire for the perceived failed prosecutions.

That was then: Cornwall inquiry hears problems of the past have largely been fixed

Canadian Press

25 February 2009 (around 12:15 pm)

CORNWALL, Ont. — The response to allegations of child sexual abuse in eastern Ontario decades ago may seem deeply flawed with the benefit of hindsight but the problems of the past have largely been corrected, a Children's Aid Society lawyer told a public inquiry Wednesday.

"When viewed with today's eyes, some of the past actions of the CAS and other institutions seems deeply flawed, even shocking and ignorant," Allinotte said.

"(But) long before inquiry began, many of the problems discussed in evidence here had been addressed and corrected."

The Cornwall inquiry has spent three years and $40.8 million investigating institutional responses to sex abuse allegations decades ago.

The Children's Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is just one of many institutions at the centre of the probe to tell the inquiry: that was then and this is now.

The inquiry has heard testimony from former Children's Aid Society wards that they were allegedly sexually abused at the time by caseworkers and foster parents.

Allinotte said there was no standard for child sex abuse investigations at the time, but the agency has since made many changes.

The Ministry of the Attorney General had come under fire for the perceived failed prosecutions.

CAS response to abuse fell short, inquiry hears

CTV Toronto

Updated: Wed Feb. 25 2009 10:55:26 AM

The Canadian Press

CORNWALL, Ont. — The Children's Aid Society in Cornwall, Ont., acknowledges it didn't respond appropriately to allegations of child sex abuse in the 1960s and '70s.

The local branch of the agency is presenting closing submissions at the Cornwall inquiry, which is looking at how institutions handled such allegations decades ago.

Agency lawyers say even though some of the responses may seem `deeply flawed' when viewed in hindsight, they shouldn't be judged by today's standards.

The inquiry has heard testimony from former Children's Aid Society wards that they were allegedly sexually abused at the time by caseworkers and foster parents.

Lawyers say there was no standard for child sex abuse investigations at the time, but the agency has since made many changes.

They highlighted several recommendations made at the inquiry, including that two workers be involved in all client relations and that a worker should not be allowed to investigate abuse claims they had a personal involvement in.

That was then: Cornwall inquiry hears problems of the past have largely been fixed

metronews.ca

25 February 2009

ALLISON JONES Canadian Press

CORNWALL, Ont. - The response to allegations of child sexual abuse in eastern Ontario decades ago may seem deeply flawed with the benefit of hindsight but the problems of the past have largely been corrected, a Children's Aid Society lawyer told a public inquiry Wednesday.

"There were many things done or not done in the past that when you look at them today seem illogical and primitive," Michele Allinotte, representing the agency's local branch, told the Cornwall inquiry.

In the 1960s people didn't think that using seatbelts could save lives and were oblivious to the dangers of second-hand smoke, said Allinotte. Society has come a long way since then, and the Children's Aid Society is not an exception, she said.

"When viewed with today's eyes, some of the past actions of the CAS and other institutions seems deeply flawed, even shocking and ignorant," Allinotte said.

"(But) long before inquiry began, many of the problems discussed in evidence here had been addressed and corrected."

The Cornwall inquiry has spent three years and $40.8 million investigating institutional responses to sex abuse allegations decades ago.

The Children's Aid Society of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is just one of many institutions at the centre of the probe to tell the inquiry: that was then and this is now.

The inquiry has heard testimony from former Children's Aid Society wards that they were allegedly sexually abused at the time by caseworkers and foster parents.

Allinotte said there was no standard for child sex abuse investigations at the time, but the agency has since made many changes.

She highlighted several further recommendations made at the inquiry for changes to agency procedures, including that two workers be involved in all client relations and that a worker should not be allowed to investigate abuse claims in which they had a personal involvement.

While not the mandate of the inquiry, allegations of a pedophile ring operating in the city have been often discussed. A provincial police investigation dubbed Project Truth laid 114 charges against 15 people but found no evidence of such a ring. Only one person was ever convicted.

The Ministry of the Attorney General had come under fire for the perceived failed prosecutions.

On Tuesday, a lawyer for the ministry told the inquiry about changes the Crown attorney's office has since made. The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services also said Tuesday that the ministry has since changed many policies.

Ontario Provincial Police were to present oral submissions Wednesday afternoon, and in written submissions the force echoes the Children's Aid Society sentiments that the agency today is a very different agency than it was at the time of Project Truth.