Report of the Cornwall Inquiry : Rapport de la Commission d'enqut̊e sur Cornwall

The focus of the demographic evidence on the “public institution” argument was restricted to the role of the Diocese in the lives of Cornwall area citizens, both historically and today. [...] In general terms, this portion of the mandate required me to inquire into and report on the events surrounding allegations of abuse of young people in Cornwall by examining the response of the justice system and other public institutions to the allegations. [...] The Ministry of Correc- tional Services, the Cornwall Police Service (CPS), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall, the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) of Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, a number of school boards, and the Ministry of the Attorney General all played some role in the matters at hand. [...] The topics covered at the hearings by the contextual experts included child sexual abuse and the impact of child sexual abuse on victims; the evolution of legislation, law, and legal processes involving children and, in particular, child sexual abuse; the reporting of abuse against children; the child welfare response to allegations of child sexual abuse; child sexual abuse and the institutional a [...] The chapter also discusses the lack of awareness, until the 1980s, by the public and by many professionals of the extent of child sexual abuse.