Quebec slow to make changes to child protection system after Granby girl's 2019 killing
It's been five years since a seven year-old girl was killed by her stepmother in Granby, after months of abuse, in the presence of her father who never intervened.
The case put Quebec's youth protection system under the microscope. A damning report was supposed to bring about changes but little has changed since.
The child will forever be remembered as the Granby girl. She died in her home after suffocating while wrapped head-to-toe in plastic cellophane that her step-mother used to prevent the child from running away.
Her father was just granted statutory release from prison after serving two-thirds of his three-and-a-half year sentence for forcible confinement. He will be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence in the community under certain conditions as of May 7. His sentence ends on July 6, 2025.
The girl's relatives are outraged by his early release.
"This little girl is not among us, and she lost her life. And that's the price that the father paid. So it's unfortunate. There's a real reflection to do as far as the sentences and that's in the federal that it should happen," said Valerie Assouline, a lawyer who represented some of the girl's family.
Following the tragedy, the government ordered a commission headed by Régine Laurent to study why youth protection failed to raise a red flag on the child's living conditions. The recommendations called for major changes in the system, including prevention, and better coordination between various authorities.
But a committee of experts says that three years after the report came out, little progress has been made.
"Well, we have some concerns because at this rhythm, I think we are looking for 20 years from now to make sure that we have all the recommendations followed," Martine Desjardins, president of the Laurent Commission Watchdog Committee.
The promised changes, she says, have yet to include key issues, including chapters for Indigenous and English-speaking people. "There's nothing done about those chapters," Desjardins said.
The provincial government insists that almost half the recommendations have been put in place.
As for the stepmother who was found guilty of second-degree murder in the young girl's killing, she was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole before 13 years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
'Repetitive partisan conduct': Conservatives to force vote on ousting Speaker Greg Fergus
The federal Conservatives have advanced a motion that will force MPs to vote on whether to oust Greg Fergus as House of Commons Speaker, after MPs' deputy adjudicator ruled Monday that the Liberal member's allegedly errant partisan event invite required urgent attention.
Trial for B.C. man accused of killing, dismembering wife begins
The trial for a Langley man accused of killing his wife began Monday, with the prosecutor laying out a disturbing series of facts agreed upon by both Crown and defence.
Robertson's hat-trick drives Stars to Game 3 win over Oilers
Jason Robertson's hat-trick goal midway through the third period broke a deadlock and proved to be the eventual winner as the Dallas Stars beat the host Edmonton Oilers 5-3 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to take a 2-1 series lead.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
Severe thunderstorms, tornado watch in some areas of Canada. Here's where
Depending on where you live, you can expect to get a mixed bag of weather this week, as local forecasts predict heavy rain, strong wind, severe thunderstorms and even snowfall across some areas of Canada.
B.C. senior prepares to move due to devastating effects of fraud
A Courtenay, B.C., senior is downsizing and packing to move as she comes to accept she can no longer afford to stay in her home, after falling victim to a scam that robbed her of her life savings worth more than $100,000.
Israel close to approving Gaza reunification program before Rafah invasion: Miller
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Israel seemed to be on the verge of approving a program to get Palestinian relatives of Canadians out of the Gaza Strip before the country's invasion of the town of Rafah.