A public inquiry will take place this spring, more than three years after the tragic death of Raphaël André, a homeless Innu found lifeless in a chemical toilet a few steps from a closed shelter in downtown Montreal. And this, in the middle of the curfew linked to the pandemic.
The coroner’s office announced Monday that these public hearings will take place from May 13 to 24 and June 3 to 14, 2024, in Longueuil.
“The hearings will allow any person of interest to express themselves regarding the circumstances of this death in order to analyze all the contributing factors, with a view to proposing possible solutions for better protection of human life” , said the coroner’s office in a press release.
The coroner Me Stéphanie Gamache will chair the investigation, assisted by the public inquiry prosecutor, Ms.e Émilie Fay-Carlos. Details regarding the investigation will be published at a later date.
Three years after death
Raphaël André was found lifeless on January 17, 2021. He was in a chemical toilet near the La Porte Ouverte shelter, which was then closed. The 51-year-old man was from Matimekush-Lac John, an Innu community in Schefferville 500 km from Sept-Îles, on the North Shore.
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Mr. André’s death occurred in the midst of confinement linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. About ten days earlier, the government of François Legault had established a curfew prohibiting the population from being outside between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. People experiencing homelessness were subject to the same regulations and had to find a place in shelter by 8 p.m.
On January 26 of the same year, the Superior Court excluded homeless people from the obligation to submit to the curfew in a safeguard order.
The Support Network for Single and Homeless People of Montreal (RAPSIM) denounced at the time that Mr. André had hidden in the chemical toilet for fear of receiving a fine related to the curfew.
This tragedy shocked all of Quebec.
A surprise public inquiry
No announcement regarding a public inquiry into Mr. André’s death had been made in the three years following it.
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) first reported the news about 12 days ago. According to this media, Raphaël André’s family was recently informed of this investigation.
The coroner’s report regarding Mr. André’s death will also be made public soon, APTN said.
How to participate in public hearings?
The public hearings will be held this spring at the Longueuil justice service point located at 25, boulevard La Fayette (room 25.02).
People who wish to participate can obtain the status of interested person by sending a written request to the coroner before 1er March 2024. The reasons for the interest must be detailed.
For more information and for the transmission of requests, please contact the prosecutor, Me Émilie Fay-Carlos, by email.