Having recently taken office, the national student protector, Jean-François Bernier, says he was surprised to receive so many complaints or reports of sexual violence. So far, 14% of all complaints or reports received at his office are of this nature.
“I would have expected a little less” than that, Mr. Bernier said in an interview.
His office therefore has 57 complaints or reports regarding sexual violence, which are added to 359 other complaints or reports relating to school services.
The National Student Ombudsman is the brand new organization that was created in August – among other measures adopted by the Legault government – after several disturbing cases in schools.
The case at the Saint-Laurent school in Montreal, where three basketball coaches were accused of sexual crimes against minors which allegedly took place over several years, particularly provoked a reaction.
At present, it is too early, indicates the national student protector, to specify in what proportion the alleged perpetrators of acts of sexual violence are members of staff or students (among the complaints received since August 2023).
Mr. Bernier insists that his organization cannot assume the role of the police and the DPJ on these issues.
He explains that the potential victim – or witness – is quickly asked if their approach to the Protector is the first they have undertaken. If this is the case, he said, he has “the legal obligation to call the DPJ” who, for its part, if necessary, will contact the police.
Mr. Bernier specifies that when a person communicates with his office on these issues, they are told quite quickly, after listening, not to “go into too much detail”, that the role of the Protector is neither that of a psychologist nor that of a social worker.
His role? To find out if the school administration is aware, to notify them if necessary and to ensure that the establishment “properly manages” the situation. Concretely, this means, for example, that “the alleged perpetrator may be suspended for at least a few days” while checks are carried out.
It can also happen, says Mr. Bernier, that the person who contacted the National Student Ombudsman himself prefers to be removed from school for a period of time.
Until now, assures the national student protector, collaboration with school management following this type of complaint or report is very good.
The reception is very positive. We are seen as people who help them find solutions.
Jean-François Bernier, national student protector
Very soon after taking office in 2023, Mr. Bernier explains that he met representatives of the organization Youth Voice Counts. “They say that when they make a denunciation, they are left in the dark afterwards, they no longer know what is happening. The police, the school no longer say anything to them. I think there was a void there that we could perhaps help fill. »
An autonomous and external ombudsman
It is important to note that complaints or reports of acts of sexual violence are not the only ones that the National Student Ombudsman can receive. Ombudsman of education in Quebec, the institution is autonomous and independent of the school network. Its mandate is to protect the rights of students and their parents by allowing them to express their dissatisfaction with the services they receive from their public school or their private school, their school service center or their school board.
The National Student Ombudsman can therefore receive complaints relating to questions of repeating a year (contested or desired) or issues concerning students who have difficulties or special needs. This could also be concerns about student intervention plans, for example.
On the other hand, school delays linked to recent strikes are not his responsibility, he repeats, since it is a labor conflict.
As for the reprisals that parents or students may fear by submitting a complaint or report, Mr. Bernier assures that the legislator has taken this issue very seriously. Fines of up to $250,000 are anticipated if this occurs.
In addition, specifies Mr. Bernier, “the burden of proof is reversed”. If a student was expelled after a complaint, it would be up to the school to prove that it had nothing to do with it. Mr. Bernier indicates that his office has studied two files so far where there were allegations of reprisals.
A reputation to build
Following a request for access to information, The Press obtained a copy of a survey commissioned from the firm SOM by the National Student Protector. This notoriety study concludes that “only 2% of Quebecers manage to precisely name the National Student Protector”, but that “when we include responses that come close to it”, his “spontaneous notoriety” amounts to 7%.
Given that the National Student Ombudsman was only created in August, why already have a reputation survey? Jean-François Bernier explains that for him it was a matter of taking a first measure, a second survey being planned after a promotional campaign for the Student Protector which is starting these days.
The two surveys will have cost $8,500. The remainder of the $50,000 contract awarded to the SOM firm “will be used to pay for consultation, consultation expertise and subsequent surveys, over the next three years,” said Pier-Olivier Fortin, advisor. in communications at the office of the National Student Ombudsman.
How to contact the National Student Ombudsman?
With the collaboration of William Leclerc, The Press