News Release

Ontario Receives Final Cornwall Public Inquiry Report

McGuinty Government To Review Recommendations And Help Community Heal

December 15, 2009

News

The Attorney General has received the final report from a public inquiry looking into historical events related to sexual abuse allegations in Cornwall.

Since 2005, a number of initiatives have been implemented and changes have been made that address many of the institutional issues raised through the inquiry. These include:

• creating a Major Case Management team to oversee the prosecution of complex cases;
• implementing new protocols between Crown attorneys, Police, and victim service providers;
• improving training for corrections and probation and parole staff, Police and Crown attorneys;
• delivering improved services and support for victims; and
• A recently updated Statement of Ethical Principles, giving probation and parole officers clear direction regarding conflict of interest and impropriety with respect to their dealings with current and former offenders.

The government will review the report and recommendations that have been made by Commissioner Normand Glaude and will determine what further actions can be taken to help the community move forward.

Quotes

"Today our deepest sympathies and regret are with those who were sexually abused or victimized in Cornwall. The work of the commission makes an important contribution to our understanding of historical child sexual abuse and the importance of community support when victims come forward. We will study the report closely so that we can help the parties, the people of Cornwall and Ontarians move forward."
— Chris Bentley, Ontario Attorney General

"First and foremost, our hearts go out to those who were victimized.  We can’t change the past but we can ensure their voices are heard.  We will continue to work with our justice and community partners to build on the improvements already made, in order to maintain the highest level of policing services and to ensure that offenders in the community are effectively and professionally supervised."
— Rick Bartolucci, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Quick Facts

• The Cornwall Public Inquiry was established in April 2005 to look into the response of the justice system and other public institutions to allegations of historical abuse in Cornwall.

Learn More

Learn more about ministries’ initiatives addressing areas covered by the recommendations.

The report is now available publicly:

• Electronically on the Cornwall Inquiry’s website at http://www.cornwallinquiry.ca
• Electronically via a link on the MAG website at http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/
• In print at the Publications Ontario bookstore, 777 Bay Street, Toronto, 1-800-668-9938, http://www.publications.gov.on.ca.

Learn more about the Cornwall Inquiry.

Contacts

Erin Moroz
Minister's Office, 416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch, 416-326-2210

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