Probe sought into handling of educator’s charges
An independent investigation is needed into the Department of Education’s actions regarding criminal behaviour by a former educational assistant at Hidden Valley School, says the Yukon Party.
An independent investigation is needed into the Department of Education’s actions regarding criminal behaviour by a former educational assistant at Hidden Valley School, says the Yukon Party.
The New Democrats, meanwhile, say they agree.
“Yukoners continue to express dismay regarding sexual abuse allegations and charges coming forward against a former educational assistant at Hidden Valley School and the handling of the situation by the Department of Education and the minister of Education (Jeanie McLean),” Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers of the Yukon Party said Monday afternoon.
On Sept. 10, it was announced that the previous day, the Yukon RCMP Specialized Response Unit had arrested Auclair-Bellemare, 34.
He has been charged with offences related to alleged incidents involving two children at the school occurring between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2018.
Auclair-Bellemare, who is free on bail, has been charged with sexual exploitation, sexual assault, sexual interference and the invitation to sexual touching. The court has imposed a publication ban on further details of the situation.
Auclair-Bellemare served a six-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to sexually interfering with a child at the school in 2019.
The Department of Education did not inform parents of Auclair-Bellemare’s guilty plea and incarceration.
Last Thursday, the Yukon RCMP held a joint press conference with the territorial government about the handling of the situation from the outset in 2019.
The RCMP publicly apologized for a major error in their investigation, and launched an independent investigation into the detachment’s handling of what Cathers called “this disturbing matter.
“Rather than show leadership and take responsibility, the minister of Education did not show up to the press conference to apologize, and instead sent staff,” Cathers said.
“While the department has acknowledged their failings, the lack of leadership from the Liberal government and ministers is apparent.
“Both the current and former minister of Education (Tracy-Anne McPhee) were not at the press conference to make a public apology, and take responsibility for what transpired. This shows a lack of leadership, and a failure to appreciate the seriousness of the government’s breach of trust with parents.”
The media were simply told that McLean was unavailable to speak at the news conference, though she had attended a meeting of concerned parents at Hidden Valley School the previous evening. That event was not open to the general public.
Nicole Morgan, the deputy minister of Education, spoke for the government at the news conference.
“Even after the meeting with Hidden Valley parents, a press conference, and an update letter issued early Friday evening, the minister still has not answered key questions,” Cathers said.
“Those questions include: when did the minister find out, what did she do once she found out, was the former minister aware of this when the charges were first laid, and if she was, then why did she not instruct parents be notified?”
“The Liberal government was elected to be accountable and responsible for the actions of the government,” said Opposition Leader Currie Dixon.
“Rather than show any semblance of leadership, they continue to duck the most basic of questions, while parents are just trying to find out what happened.
“The minister must immediately launch an independent third party review into the actions of the Department of Education throughout this entire situation and make the findings and recommendations public.
“While the minister did finally apologize to parents in the update letter issued late Friday, the Liberal government still must do the same as the RCMP, and launch an independent investigation into how the Department of Education – including the minister – handled the situation over the past two years.”
Annette King, the territory’s Child and Youth Advocate, plans to review how the situation was handled.
McLean initially opposed King’s plans, saying last month the advocate lacks the legal authority to take such an action.
However, Morgan told last Thursday’s news conference the government has now decided to co-operate with King’s work.
NDP Leader Kate White told the Star Tuesday afternoon she is fully supportive of the idea the Yukon Party is espousing.
She agreed the Liberal government has done a poor job of handling the situation at the school – and an even worse job of handling communicating with the public.
“How did this happen?” she asked rhetorically. “It highlights the importance of communications.”
White said as far as she’s concerned, McPhee needs to be the one answering the questions on the Hidden Valley situation.
McPhee has not done so.
“She was also the minister of Justice at the time, so she could really answer the questions,” White pointed out.
“The trust with the students and families is so broken it will take a long time to heal.”
White said she fully expects the subject to be a point of contention when the legislature reconvenes on Oct. 7.
On Monday, the Star asked cabinet communications staff for a response to the opposition’s call for an investigation.
“The government has no further comment on the Hidden Valley Elementary School situation at this time,” spokesperson Renée Francoeur said in an emailed response issued this morning.
Comments (16)
Up 23 Down 2
Groucho d'North on Oct 2, 2021 at 12:49 pm
A serious situation like an education staffer being accused of pedophilia is not managed within the department of Education and their HR branch. A matter of this significance automatically involves the Public Service Commissoner and Cabinet where the issue is discussed to determine options and how best to deal with it. All Cabinet members and the Premier are as guilty as McPhee for how they decided to handle this sad matter. I hope the probe investigates this process without any special Cabinet secrecy privilege applied.
Up 8 Down 3
Groucho d'North on Oct 2, 2021 at 12:33 pm
@llama and all others who feel there was a failure in the hiring process for this mutt.
According to the Canadian Human Rights Act, it is illegal for an employer to ask candidates about their age, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, family status, race, color, religion, and mental or physical disability. So I doubt like hell if any government HR agency asks during the hiring process: "Are you a pedophile or other form of sexual predator?"
Up 10 Down 3
Salt on Oct 1, 2021 at 5:17 pm
@Yukon in 2021
The absolutely broken nature of the minds of the partisans you describe is hard for a rational person to understand and you cite a very real example. These people care for nothing but their own feelings and lack the capacity for meaningful self-reflection. A civilization that has these people in power can do nothing but decay.
Up 24 Down 8
Mike on Sep 30, 2021 at 3:22 pm
Kate has her safe injection site so she's not going to challenge the liberals. Spineless Silver won't fire any of his party so probe is a good word for this because everyone is going to get probed but the liberals and those responsible. Remember it's the liberals agenda to protect our junkies - they can vote but our children are not their concern. That being said it is fair to guess the probe will be done like the aliens that steal people with nobody being held accountable but our children being victims.
This government is disgusting in its excuses and fake apologies. As is the school that allowed this to happen.
Up 30 Down 5
Barbara on Sep 30, 2021 at 12:30 pm
The people who covered this up are IN ON IT. Wakey wakey everybody.
Up 38 Down 9
TMYK on Sep 30, 2021 at 11:44 am
@Llama Unfortunately, politics does come into play. It was our sunny way Liberals who hid this information when it came to light. It was the Liberals who decided to not tell parents their children may have been abused. It was the Liberals who deflected questions from the Yukon Party asking for this information. The current Liberal Minister and DM and the past Liberal Minister and DM should all be ashamed of what they did.
Up 36 Down 4
Yukon in 2021 on Sep 30, 2021 at 8:39 am
Yukon in 2021:
'The texts sent by two Yukon Party MLAs in a private conversation intended to be humorous (and about other adults) were not funny, extremely homophobic, INCREDIBLY offensive, and they need to be removed from their positions immediately. Them saying they are sorry doesn't cut it.' Protests ensue. Newsfeeds light up with disgust, hatred, and vitriol.
Also Yukon in 2021:
'Children were molested in our school system and the Department of Education and the Minister of Education were aware and kept that information from the public and - specifically - parents of other children in the impacted school and classrooms. Meanwhile, other children were also assaulted, but parents didn't know they should be watching for signs, or speaking to their children about it for years. But that's okay, the Liberals are sorry.' Yukoners go about their business.
I fear that partisanship has clouded our judgment beyond repair.
Up 24 Down 6
Matthew on Sep 30, 2021 at 7:04 am
I'm sure he will site "cultural differences" and get off Scott free, just like so many others before him, sad when we don't protect the kids isn't it..
Up 25 Down 2
llama on Sep 29, 2021 at 11:19 pm
While everyone is playing politics no one is asking why the policies and procedures of the department as a whole did not have adequate measures in place to prevent a sexual predator of being hired in the first place or follow up for when someone notices something fishy going on (employees with authority should NEVER be with a child alone.. that protects the child AND the employee). This is just poor management and new folks should be hired to clean up shop. Do it for the kids. Politics really have nothing to do with it ... Just look at the dates... 2014 until 2019... Nuff said.
Up 23 Down 11
bonanzajoe on Sep 29, 2021 at 8:43 pm
And we have this government for at least the next 4 years. And by then, all this will be forgotten. Thats how JT and federal libs got re-elected - from bad memories.
Up 31 Down 5
Kate MIA on Sep 29, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Amazing Kate White was going to bring this up just before the election. Now not a peep from her we now know where she sits on protecting children. No she’s not to blame, but she would be all over this issue if she was not in bed with the Liberals. This is the one thing Kate is good at and she is gagged.
Up 36 Down 6
Clifford on Sep 29, 2021 at 4:29 pm
January 1, 2014? You gotta be kidding me. Who was running the ship then that he slipped through their fingers? Who was responsible?
Up 48 Down 6
Yukoner ‘71 on Sep 29, 2021 at 4:05 pm
The government seems to be criminally negligent in this matter, Terms such as due diligence and standards of care come to mind, the buck stops with Sandy Silver on this and he and his cabinet ministers dropped the ball in what could be the worst example in the history of YG.
Up 36 Down 8
Al on Sep 29, 2021 at 3:51 pm
Yes, it is now "exercise" time for this bloody Liberal government. It is called the sport of "dodge, duck, run, close your eyes, close your ears, blame others, ignore the media, ignore the calls for an independent inquiry, just ignore everyone who evens mentions anything. The most important sport is the "no comment" one, and lastly you citizens need to learn that we the government control the narrative - not you!!!"
Up 32 Down 6
Olav on Sep 29, 2021 at 3:29 pm
There should be a "probe" alright-
The probe should contain 10,000 volts and be used to "electrify" those in question!
Shocking!
Up 50 Down 16
joe on Sep 29, 2021 at 3:26 pm
You know who's done a poor job? The NDP supporting the liberal pension plan coalition. We keep allowing this liberal party with no vision to lead us further into division and debt.