School board welcomes Quebec probe into sexual abuse
At least one school board is welcoming news of an investigation into allegations of sexual violence at schools.
Some parents of students at Massey-Vanier High School in Cowansville say the school board is not doing enough to protect their kids from sexual violence.
Those accusations and others from other schools are what prompted Education minister Bernard Drainville to launch a investigation into sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour at the elementary and high school levels in all Quebec schools.
The Eastern Townships School Board, which is responsible for Massey-Vanier High School, welcomed the move.
"The minister mentioned in this announcement that the number of complaints had been increasing and I think that merits looking into quite apart from anything that's happening in our school," said the school board's chairperson, Michael Murray.
The Quebec Liberal Party said it would support the investigation.
"How come we heard that people actually raised their hands and tried to find help and, unfortunately, no one helped them in school?" said Marwah Rizqy, the opposition critic on education.
"I told Mr. Drainville he will have my entire collaboration because we need to fight the system and [ensure] the kids are safe in school."
But Quebec Solidaire Education Critic Ruba Ghazal said the province doesn't need an investigation; it needs a law, similar to the legislation for CEGEPs and universities aimed at strengthening measures preventing sexual violence.
Melanie Lemay, co-founder of Quebec Contre les Violences Sexuelles. (Joe Lofaro/CTV News)
La Voix des jeunes compte (Young Voices Count), a group fighting against sexual abuse, agrees. It said it has been asking for a law for the past five years, adding that more services for students are needed province-wide.
"We need to train the professionals working in schools to be able to receive testimonies of youth who have been experiencing sexual violence either at school or at home -- we need this law to make sure that if an adult is not acting and helping a survivor, they are going to have consequences," said Melanie Lemay, an advocate of the group.
"We need to make sure also that we stop the silence."
At the beginning of the school year, a new student ombudsperson will handle complaints in schools — another move the government has said will help keep students safe.
Ombudsperson Jean-Francois Bernier is responsible for ensuring the rights of 1.3 million Quebec students and parents are respected within the public and private education network.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.