Lise Thriault takes sick leave during Val-d'Or abuse crisis

QuebecPublic Security MinisterLise Thriault, who has been front-and-centre during the Val-d'Or aboriginal abuse crisis,is taking a leave of absence for health reasons.

"(Thriault) has health problems,"said Thriault's spokeswoman, milie Simard. "Health issues are between her and her doctor. We wish her the best for a quick recovery."

Municipal Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau will step in for Thriault during her leave, the government announced Thursday.

• Aboriginal women's claims of police sex abuse under investigation
• Philippe Couillard to meet with First Nations on Val-d'Or abuse allegations
• ANALYSIS|Not just aboriginal women should be scared of Quebec's police

Thriault has been on the defensive ever since news broke that several native women in the town of Val-d'Or, about 525 kilometres northwest of Montreal, accused provincial police officers of physical and sexual abuse going back several years.

The Opposition has called for the minister's resignation over what they call her mismanagement of the investigation into the abuse allegations.

Last week, in a rare public showing of emotion,Thriaultcried during a news conference in which she was questioned about the affair.

Several women had told Radio-Canada's investigative journalismprogramEnqutethat police officers routinely picked up women whoappeared to be intoxicated, drove them out of town and left them towalk home in the cold. Some allege they were physically assaulted ormade to perform sex acts.

After theEnqutereport aired last week, eight officers already underinvestigation for abuse of power and assault were suspended or put onadministrative duties. None of those officers are currently under investigation for sex-related acts.

He said police are investigating two other officers on sex-relatedallegations, however. One of those dates back to the1980sand theofficer has since died, while the officer in the other case has notbeen identified.

Last week theSretduQubechanded the caseoverto the Montreal police department as per provincial protocol, so that police officers with the SQ are notinvestigating members of their own force.

Evening vigil

The news ofThriault's temporary leave of absence came a few hours beforea vigil in support of indigenous women took placein downtown Montreal.

At 6 p.m., hundreds of people gathered outside Place des Arts in response tothe shocking allegations of abuse by police officers against native women in Val-d'Or.