‘Intolerable’: Educators at youth detention centre accused of having sex with minors

By The Canadian Press on October 25, 2024.

Quebec Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant responds to the opposition during question period, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL – Quebec’s social services minister says he’s disturbed by reports that educators at a detention centre for youth in Montreal had sexual relations with minor detainees.

Lionel Carmant told reporters today that both the detention facility and the police are investigating to shed light on the allegations of sexual misconduct at the Cité-des-Prairies rehabilitation centre for troubled youth.

La Presse reported that nine women employees at the detention centre had sexual intercourse with at least five minor residents, and that one of the educators had a baby with a detainee.

The regional health authority says two managers at the facility were temporarily removed and that an unspecified numbers of employees who worked under them have been suspended or fired.

The health authority says it expects a report later in the fall into the centre, which houses some of the most troubled youth in Quebec’s child services system, most of whom have committed crimes.

Carmant says he found out about the situation last week and adds that sexual abuse of vulnerable youth by people in authority is “intolerable in all environments.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2024.