2024-11-07 11:00:00
When the CISSS de Laval decided, last December, to intervene at the Le Jardin unit, a specialized residence which housed around ten children with autism or an intellectual disability, the situation was described as “ worrying”.
CISSS managers were placed there 24 hours a day […] and the independent workforce was withdrawn in order to ensure staff stability, explained the deputy director general of the CISSS de Laval, Majorik Bouchard. The residence would be closed a few weeks later and the children transferred.
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Majorik Bouchard, deputy director general of the CISSS de Laval
Photo : Radio-Canada
However, in the report of an investigation launched on its own initiative, the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights (CDPDJ) concludes that young people housed at the Le Jardin unit were exposed to situations [qui ont] compromised their security and integrity between March and November 2023.
Among the shortcomings identified, the Commission noted an incomplete assessment of children’s needs, non-respect of the right to accommodation in an appropriate place and failures to comply with obligations to report potential situations of abuse.
The report also notes a lack of diligence by the Director of Youth Protection [DPJ] at several stages of the intervention as well as [de] the absence of steps aimed at putting an end to compromised situations and preventing them from recurring.
The Commission recognizes that improvements have been made, but recommends that children have living environments adapted to their needs. She also asks the CISSS and the DPJ of Laval to remind stakeholders of their duty to report any shortcomings that could harm the children for whom these establishments are responsible.
As specified by the vice-president of the CDPDJ, Suzanne Arpin, the Commission will ensure rigorous follow-up with those responsible in order to guarantee the implementation of its recommendations and commitments made during the investigation.
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Suzanne Arpin, vice-president of the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights, youth mandate
Photo : Radio-Canada / Alexandre Duval
The establishment has one month to implement the recommendations of the CDPDJ.
The children who were accommodated at [l’unité] Le Jardin are vulnerable children with disabilities. Their security and development have been compromised. Both the CISSS and the DYP must ensure that the rights of these children are respected and that the situations they experienced are not repeated with other children.
A quote from Suzanne Arpin, vice-president of the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights
Find a new place
According to our information, the children will have to move again within a few months. The CISSS de Laval learned at the beginning of October that the owners of two accommodation resources were going to cease their activities. The CISSS staff took over while waiting to find another suitable place of accommodation.
Furthermore, the Commission indicated that it is currently pursuing another investigation which deals in particular with the living conditions of young people housed at the Cartier Center in Laval. The findings are expected to be made public by the end of December.
Called to react, the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, declared that he was monitoring very closely the level of accommodation (for children) in Laval; we did not wait until after the Commission to act.
These CDPDJ investigations come at a time when scandals are piling up in the network of youth centers and a new national director of youth protection, Lesley Hills, says she wants to shine a bright light in our house, in all areas. wardrobes, in every room of the house.
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**Interview with Majorik Bouchard, Deputy Director General of CISSS de Laval**
**Interviewer**: Good morning, Majorik. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent situation at the Le Jardin unit. Can you explain what led to the decision to intervene at this specialized residence?
**Majorik Bouchard**: Good morning, and thank you for having me. The decision to intervene at Le Jardin was made in response to a worrying situation that emerged late last year. We assessed that the environment was not conducive to the well-being of the children housed there. As a result, we placed CISSS managers on-site around the clock to stabilize the situation and ultimately decided to close the residence and transfer the children to more appropriate placements.
**Interviewer**: In light of the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights’ report, what specific shortcomings were identified during this period?
**Majorik Bouchard**: The report highlighted several critical areas where we fell short, including an incomplete assessment of the children’s needs and a failure to respect their right to suitable accommodations. There were also lapses in our reporting mechanism regarding potential situations of abuse, which is concerning.
**Interviewer**: What steps are being taken to address these issues and improve conditions for the children in your care?
**Majorik Bouchard**: We are fully committed to implementing the Commission’s recommendations. This includes ensuring that children are placed in living environments that cater to their specific needs. We’ll also be reinforcing our training for staff and stakeholders on their duty to report any potential harm or shortcomings immediately.
**Interviewer**: The Commission has noted some improvements but calls for rigorous follow-ups. How will CISSS ensure that these recommendations are effectively executed?
**Majorik Bouchard**: We take this matter very seriously. We will conduct regular assessments and engage in ongoing communication with the Commission to ensure compliance with their recommendations. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for all children under our care, and we will be held accountable to that commitment.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for your transparency, Majorik. Is there anything else you’d like to add regarding the future of child accommodations in Laval?
**Majorik Bouchard**: Yes, I want to stress our commitment to continuous improvement. We recognize the vital importance of providing secure and appropriate environments for vulnerable children, and we are dedicated to learning from our past mistakes to ensure their well-being moving forward.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Majorik, for sharing your insights and for your dedication to improving the situation. We hope to see positive changes in the near future.
