Goudge Inquiry: Notable Quotes: Day One; (12 November, 2007);

Commissioner Stephen Goudge:

"Section 16 of the Order in Council authorizes me to provide for counselling services to these individuals and their families, and a number of them have asked that I do so...I am very hopeful that this will help these individuals and families to move forward with their lives in a positive way."

(On his meetings with individuals and families "affected by practices in Ontario's pediatric forensic pathology system)": "All who met with me did so voluntarily...This was not part of the Commission's fact-finding process. Nonetheless, the insights I was given in those meetings will do much to anchor my work in real human experiences, I am very grateful to those who attended, and for the openness and candour they brought to our conversations about very painful personal subjects."

(On his visits to two aboriginal communities in Northern Ontario): "Among other things, it brought home to me the enormous challenges in Ontario of making available services like pediatric forensic pathology to remote northern communities in general, and in particular, to aboriginal communities."

Commission Counsel Linda Rothstein;

(On Dr. Charles Smith): "A few words about Dr. Smith; It is true that the Coroner's review was created to examine his work and that the twenty cases in which the review panel identified concerns will be the subject of considerable evidence as this Inquiry proceeds.

But, as with others, our job is to critically scrutinize Dr. Smith's work, but not to demonize him. Moreover, we cannot allow undue emphasis on his role to distract us from our systemic focus. As will become clear form the overview reports, in a number of cases we will examine, Dr. Smith's opinions were supported by others engaged in the complex and difficult task of pediatric death investigation."

Lawyer Niels Ortved: Representing Dr. Charles Randal Smith;

"As this inquiry commences and before any testimony is heard, Dr. Smith wishes to publicly acknowledge to the commission that in the 20 years that he performed autopsies at the direction of the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario, he made a number of mistakes for which he is truly sorry."

Harold Levy;