The multiplication of cases of sexual violence in schools forces the Minister of Education of Quebec, Bernard Drainville, to launch a general investigation.
“Cases of allegations concerning sexual assault are increasing in Quebec,” said the latter in the Blue Room of the National Assembly, Tuesday afternoon, following a question from the member for Quebec solidaire, Ruba Ghazal.
In an act of designation signed on Tuesday and sent to the Dutythe Minister asks the officials of the General Directorate of Internal Affairs to carry out a “general scope” investigation into “any situation involving behavior that could reasonably raise fears for the physical or psychological safety of students”.
Complaint handling processes and the administrative management of problematic behaviors, which have been the subject of recent criticism, will be particularly under scrutiny. Hiring processes will also be analyzed. A final report is expected by July 31, 2023.
The publicized cases of a teacher at the Center de services scolaire du Chemin-du-Roy, a special education teacher at the Center de services scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île and a teacher at the Center de services scolaire des Patriotes prompted Bernard Drainville to initiate such a process. “This could include the Cowansville business,” said the minister, after stressing that any new information can be incorporated into the investigation.
Young girls from the Massey-Vanier English-language secondary school in Cowansville reported on Monday being the repeated target of sexual violence by a boy from their establishment, which prompted them to file a complaint with the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) . The students denounce what they describe as inaction on the part of the school for a year and a half, and claim to have been taken more seriously by the police than by the management.
On Tuesday, a 48-year-old teacher from Stanislas College in Montreal also appeared at the Montreal courthouse. Alexandre Gagné faces 15 charges, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, luring, threats, extortion and distribution of cannabis.
Framework law requested
Liberal MP and education critic Marwah Rizqy said on Twitter that she will offer her “full cooperation” to Minister Drainville in this “unfortunately necessary” investigation. “We must turn all the stones to understand this scourge and better protect young people in our schools,” she wrote. There is still a lot to do but every gesture counts”.
Ruba Ghazal, education spokesperson for Québec solidaire, also believes that an investigation “was made necessary”. “The #moiaussicolaire calls for a profound change of mentality in our schools, she wrote on the social network. Prevention will go through a framework law”. The party intends to table a bill to prevent and fight against sexual violence in schools, as is the case in higher education establishments.
To this, Bernard Drainville replied in the Blue Room to the solidarity MP that the national student protector will take office next September. ” They [protecteurs régionaux et national] will be able to deal with cases of sexual violence in schools as a matter of priority, underlined the Minister. They must be allowed […] to investigate properly”. “If it’s not enough, we will act,” he added.
The collective The voice of young people counts, which fights against sexual violence in schools, wants for its part to ensure that the investigation goes “to the bottom of things” and that “nothing will be omitted or sloppy”. “We want to make sure that victims, witnesses, parents and organizations can be met,” said the collective, which has also been calling for a framework law since 2018.