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	Opp Lawyer Attempts to Allay Fears about New Inquiry Deadlines By Trevor Pritchard Standard-Freeholder October 30, 2008 http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1272287 An Ontario Provincial Police lawyer tried to allay fears Wednesday that new deadlines imposed on the Cornwall Public Inquiry would harm the quality of evidence given by his institution's witnesses. Speaking before the first OPP witness began testifying, Neil Kozloff pledged that the OPP would "do our utmost" to meet strict orders handed down last week by the Ministry of the Attorney General mandating that the final inquiry witness leave the stand no later than Jan. 30, 2009. "The volume of work that remains to be done has not changed. We are concerned about the time limits imposed and the effect it will have on this inquiry's work," said Kozloff. "(But) the order-in-council, as now amended, should not preclude the Ontario Provincial Police from a full response - a response that will assist you, Mr. Commissioner, and the people of this community, where our officers served, to understand the work done by the organization." It's expected about a dozen OPP witnesses will testify at the inquiry, which is probing how institutions responded to allegations of historical sexual abuse. Some parties with standing have sharply criticized the province's marching orders, claiming they will limit the amount of time available for cross-examination and could result in potential witnesses being culled to meet the Jan. 30 deadline. Kozloff made his statements before Supt. Carson Fougere, a 34-year veteran of the OPP, took the stand. From 1995 until 1999, Fougere was the OPP's director of operations for eastern Ontario. He acted as the force's media liaison in the early days of Project Truth, a four-year investigation into rumours a pedophile clan was preying on children in the area. Despite that role, Fougere told Citizens for Community renewal lawyer Helen Daley he was never shown Project Truth's mandate, and said parts of it - like the suggestion the local Crown's office might have conspired to keep the alleged abuse under wraps - were "news to me" "I had heard allegations made against the Cornwall Police Service, against the Diocese of (Alexandria-Cornwall)," said Fougere. "In my tenure here . . . I never heard any allegations made against the Crown attorney's office." Fougere also said it was his understanding Project Truth was not limited to people Daley described as "prominent and respected citizens of Cornwall."
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