Lise Thriault off duty for 6 weeks following Val-d'Or abuse crisis

QuebecPublic Security MinisterLiseThriaultwill be off-duty for at least the next six weeks for health reasons.

Earlier this week, the provincial government announced Thriault the minister who has been front-and-centre during the Val-d'Oraboriginal abuse crisis would be taking a leave of absence for an undetermined amount of time.

Over the weekend, the government said that she has since been given a six-weekbed-restorder by her doctor.

Municipal Affairs Minister PierreMoreauis replacingThriaultwhile she is out of commission.

Thriaulthas been in the spotlight and on the defensive since news broke last weekthat several native women in the town ofVal-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 said the allegations in Val-d'Or were "troubling and shocking."

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.

More on Val-d'Or

• Abuse allegations in Val-d'Or stemmed from Sindy Ruperthouse disappearance
• Aboriginal women's claims of police sex abuse under investigation
• Val-d'Or police allegations: First Nations chiefs outline demands
• 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