Quebec minister preparing strategy to deal with increased violence in schools
Quebec Education Minster Bernard Drainville says he is preparing a strategy to fight violence in schools.
Drainville made the announcement Friday during a question-and-answer session in the Quebec legislature, after Liberal MNA Marwah Rizqy reported a rise in violent incidents across Quebec.
The MNA for Saint-Laurent explained that she had made access-to-information requests and obtained data on the seizure of weapons, such as guns, around schools.
In Laval, police seized 14 weapons in 2021-2022, compared to six in 2018-2019. In Repentigny, the seizures went from zero to 14 weapons seized in two years, she illustrated.
"There's no child who's going to learn with fear in their stomach, and then there's no staff member ... who's going to feel like staying if we don't send a clear message that we're taking the situation seriously," Rizqy said.
Drainville acknowledged that Quebec schools are facing "increasingly pressing challenges," saying he is "extremely concerned" about the violence, which he said could be the result of the pandemic.
"We are preparing a strategy to fight violence," he said. "I have asked my teams to come back to me as soon as possible with this strategy."
The minister said several "means are already in place." For example, police officers are present in some schools. "If it is necessary to add [means], we will add them," he said.
He rejected Rizqy's request to study the phenomenon in parliamentary committee and to consult the opposition parties before the strategy is tabled.
In addition, Drainville announced the creation of a telephone line for reports of sexual assault. An email address already exists: signalements@éducation.gouv.qc.ca.
The phone line will be activated in the next few days, the minister said, without giving further details.
Last Tuesday, Drainville launched an investigation "of general scope" following multiple reports and allegations of sexual misconduct in the school system.
In particular, he was questioned by Québec solidaire MNA Ruba Ghazal about sexual assaults allegedly committed against students at a high school in Cowansville, in the Eastern Townships.
On Friday, Rizqy asked the minister to have an independent firm conduct the investigation to dispel any appearance of conflict of interest.
Rizqy also raised the issue of dilapidated schools. She says she has already received several photos of dilapidated schools, two days after she launched a call to all on social networks.
The MNA took the initiative to ask for these photos last Wednesday, when Premier François Legault said he had doubts about the picture of dilapidated schools.
The proportion of buildings in poor or very poor condition in the education network has risen from 59 per cent to 61 per cent in one year, according to budget documents presented Tuesday.
When asked about this, Legault said he doubted that all of these schools were dilapidated. He suspects that school service centres are inflating needs to get more money.
The premier also announced that he has mandated his minister responsible for infrastructure, Jonatan Julien, to review the process of evaluating the state of disrepair in schools.
At a press conference at the National Assembly on Friday morning, Rizqy showed several photos that she believes prove that the situation is deteriorating in Quebec schools.
She showed photos of floors with holes and piles of mouse droppings.
The MNA said she remembers that when he was a radio host, the Education Minister Bernard Drainville, "did not doubt the dilapidated state of the schools."
Today, the minister says that he "of course" recognizes the problem: the government is planning $22 billion over 10 years for the renovation, expansion, reconstruction and construction of schools.
However, if paving and computer wiring problems were excluded, 400 schools would go from an E or D (very poor) rating to a C, B or even A (satisfactory), he said.
He said he questions the "methodology" used to rank schools.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 24, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.