Plans for upcoming hearings into youth protection services unveiled

An upcoming commission will leave no stone unturned in its examination of the issues facing youth protection services in the province, according to the commission's chair.

The commission created in response to the death of a seven-year-old girl in Granby in April will hear from youth, parents, families, expertsand case workers.

ChairRgine Laurent said there will also be public consultations across the province in aneffort to identify the problems with Quebec's youth protection services.

More than 60 groups and individuals are slated to appear before the commission in the first few months, starting Oct. 22 in Montreal and continuing until December.

Laurent said she and two other commissioners,Andr LebonandMichel Rivard,will look at every aspect of the laws, funding challengesand staffing shortages affecting youth protection.

It will also attempt to make recommendations so children do not end up in the system in the first place.

She said she plans to deliver "concrete and applicable" recommendations in the commission's final report.

How it will work

Up first will be young adults who have gone through the system, explained Lebon.

"They will talk to us about their experience as a child and adolescent, so it's important," he said.

In the new year, the commissionwill hold public hearings across the province.

Rivard said it's important to speak to people outside of Montreal, because youth protection services outside the metropolis often have less staff, less fundsand work in entirely different conditions.

Lebon said the commission will draw on the work of the Viens Commission and the national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls when it comes to issues with youth protection services facing Indigenous communities.

He said they want to avoid doubling up on the work already done by those groups, but that theircommission may make recommendations about issues facing Indigenous communities.

The girl in Granby was known to youth protection services at the time of her death. Premier Franois Legaultlaunched thecommissionabout a month after she died.

Its final report is expected to be delivered by November2020.

Anyone wanting to share their story with the commission can email votrehistoire@csdepj.gouv.qc.ca or call 1-833-990-2443.