Quebec Youth Protection Head Resigns Amid Scandal in October 2024
- Catherine Lemay resigned after allegations surfaced involving sexual misconduct by educators at a youth detention facility.
- The allegations included claims of sexual relationships with detainees and one educator having a child with a resident.
- Minister Lionel Carmant emphasized a need for a leadership change to align with the necessary cultural shift in youth protection practices.
In Quebec, the head of youth protection recently stepped down shortly after serious allegations emerged regarding a detention facility for minors. Reports indicated that multiple educators at the Cité-des-Prairies rehabilitation center were involved in inappropriate sexual relationships with detained adolescents, including a case in which an educator bore a child with a minor. Following these revelations, Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant mandated the resignation of Catherine Lemay, emphasizing a need for a shift in leadership to better align with the necessary cultural changes in the youth protection system. Furthermore, this incident comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of the protocols within the youth protection network, particularly related to the swift removal of children from their families in central Quebec and the Mauricie region, leading to greater calls for reform. The situation has sparked investigations from both the facility's management and local police, shedding light on the broader challenges facing the youth protection system in Quebec.