Victims of sexual abuse who have been receiving counselling as part of the Cornwall Public Inquiry will continue to get help from the Ontario government once the inquiry is over.

Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley confirmed Tuesday that the province will find other ways to help those victims once the money tied to the inquiry runs out 30 days after the release of its final report on Dec. 15.

"We're aware of the many challenges of the people who've been victimized or affected," he said. "We're going to be taking a very close look and following up with each and every individual to get them what they require."

The inquiry was launched in 2006 to examine the response of institutions to allegations that children were sexually abused in Cornwall by men in positions of authority — including priests, lawyers and parole officers, over several decades. One of the inquiry's goals was to help the eastern Ontario community heal from the damage.

According to Peter Engelmann, lead counsel for the inquiry, about 400 people in Cornwall, about two-thirds of them alleged victims and another third who have been dealing with the victims, have received counselling as a result.

'Amazing transformations'

Psychologist Heather McIntosh, who is overseeing their cases, said many of her clients are anxious about being cut off after the final report is released. She said the help has made a difference in their lives.

"You know, we've seen some amazing transformations — folks who didn't finish high school going back to school, folks who who'd been alcoholics or addicted their entire lives getting clean for the first time, people taking on new kinds of jobs — real healing stories."

She added that the counsellors who have taken on their cases plan to continue working with their clients after the money runs out.

"We are ethically responsible," she said. "We opened up a can of worms. We can't just say, 'That's it. See ya later.'"

Bentley said the government is trying to figure out which support services are most appropriate for taking over the healing services started under the Cornwall inquiry and will benefit from the recommendations in the report.

He added that a co-ordinator has been put in place to handle the transition.