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	Male Survivors Await Vowed Action By Randy Richmond London Free Press November 29, 2010 http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/11/28/16352551.html Male survivors of sexual abuse are beginning to worry the Ontario government is running out of time to give them a voice in creating a provincewide counselling network. One month after vowing to consult survivors — and only two months before time runs out — the Ministry of the Attorney General has yet to set up any meetings. But a spokesperson for Attorney General Chris Bentley insists the Liberal government will stick to its promise to discuss new counselling services with survivors, "The minister is adamant the engagement goes on. There are going to be meetings," Nauman Khan, communications adviser to Bentley, said. But that was news to one survivor who pushed the province to make the promise in the first place. "They are running out of time. I don't think they know what they're doing," Londoner John Swales said. Last week, a minister's aide told him an online survey would provide the bulk of the input, Swales said. "That started to reek of tokenism," he said. "I think we can do better than that." The Liberals had given Ontario's social service agencies until Nov. 1 to apply for $2 million to set up four regional counselling networks and one Ontario-wide crisis line for male survivors of abuse. But some male survivors criticized the plan, saying the very people to be served by the new system weren't asked for their opinions. As well, the province's plan could fund agencies some male survivors don't trust, such as the Catholic Church or women-only counselling centres. The province's plans also run counter to the recommendations of the $53-million, three-year Cornwall public inquiry into abuse of males. The inquiry recommended the province take the time to consult with male survivors and others, and develop a comprehensive, long-term plan. In the wake of criticism, Bentley agreed Nov. 1 to extend the province's deadline for agencies to Jan 31 to allow for consultation with survivors. News those promised meetings would go ahead gave Swales some satisfaction, but he remained worried about the value of last-minute consulting. "We have not looked at the questions of what to do and how to do it. We need to know what we are doing." The meetings should involve survivors and clinicians, eventually leading to an advisory committee that helps set up counselling services, Swales said. Contact: randy.richmond@sunmedia.ca
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