The overwhelming cases which have shaken the DPJ for several weeks have got the better of the national director of youth protection. According to information obtained by -, the minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, asked Catherine Lemay, the first person to occupy this position created in the wake of the Laurent Commission, to step down.
Faced with this untenable situation, everything suggests that she will submit her resignation this Monday. Ms. Lemay would therefore no longer wear the hat of big boss of the DPJbut she could still retain a position as assistant deputy minister which would not necessarily be in the General Directorate of Development, Well-being and Youth Protection, again according to our information.
The Legault government has found itself in the hot seat in recent weeks, as a sex scandal rocks the Cité-des-Prairies rehabilitation center and the DPJ of Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec has been placed under supervision. The new position of national director of youth protection nevertheless aimed to appoint a guardian angel and a watchdog
as recommended by Régine Laurent, at the end of the Special Commission on the Rights of Children and Youth Protection, three years ago.
Under pressure
In recent days, pressure has become increasingly strong for Catherine Lemay to leave office. Last Friday, Québec Solidaire added its voice to those calling for his departure, while the Quebec Liberal Party also accused the minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, of having lost control
of the network.
Remember that nine educators were fired or suspended at the Cité-des-Prairies center for having had sexual relations with young people, some of whom were minors at the time of the events. They are interned for having committed serious crimes, such as murder, drug trafficking or pimping.
Minister Carmant was informed of this explosive affair only last week, just a few days before it was reported by Duty et The Press. Several investigations, including one in CIUSSS of the South-Central Island of Montreal, had nevertheless been triggered.
In an interview with the network LCNCatherine Lemay admitted on Friday that she had never yet visited this center, renowned for receiving serious cases of DPJ. She was appointed in 2021 by the Legault government, to follow up on the recommendations of the Laurent Commission. His mandate was renewed in March 2024 for one year only.
The scandals are piling up
Another scandal was revealed by The Press on October 9, forcing Minister Lionel Carmant to demand that the DPJ Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec. Revelations obtained by the Commission on Human Rights and Youth Rights indicate poor management of cases of children placed for adoption in the region.
The rights of dozens of them, as well as their parents, were violated because they were placed in a mixed bank too quickly, without a full assessment. Even before receiving the report in this matter, Minister Carmant told the media that he believes the situation is worse than what has been publicly reported. He even requested verifications in all DPJ of the province to ensure that these are not widespread problems.
The Legault government’s council of ministers would be able to appoint a new national director of youth protection to replace Catherine Lemay as of next Wednesday.
