QUEBEC CITY – The Quebec government has released the findings of an investigation into a string of runaways at a youth centre in Laval, where as many as five teenage girls went missing this winter.
“We’ve had a few runaways in a few days coming from the Laval centre, which doesn’t mean the problem is only in Laval. It exists all over the province,” said Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux.
These are shocking words, but it’s not a new issue: young runaways, most often teenage girls, have been sexually exploited for years.
Now, a near 40-page report by auditor André Lebon, reveals where improvements can be made.
READ MORE: Quebec injects $3 million to fight sexual exploitation of runaway teens
Many of these girls have had a past connection with pimps, stated the report, thus calling for early prevention in schools.
It also concluded young people in these centres need consistent social workers and must be provided with programming, training or apprenticeship to instill self-confidence.
Last month, the government announced $3 million over five years to address sexual exploitation of teens.
“Prevention Jeunesse is one way of preventing those problems, accompanying better the victims of sexual exploitation, but it’s not the end of the story,” said Coiteux.
However, the government had no new action plan in place, despite the auditor’s recommendations.
READ MORE: Laval group home a target of gangs and prostitution rings: report
The union representing workers at the Laval youth centre has harshly criticized the government for cutting $20 million a year to centres.
Tuesday, the opposition Parti Québécois called the new report an “indictment” of the government because of these cuts.
“You should have said ‘yes’ to the Montreal police when they asked for a regional task force. You should have never have stopped funding the grassroots groups who are key for prevention,” said PQ Youth Protection Critic Jean-François Lisée.
“Parents said ‘we don’t need another report. We need resources,'” said CAQ MNA Nathalie Roy.
“The people, the staff, at the centre jeunesse in Laval, they do their job, but the thing is that we don’t have enough resources.”
Coiteux alluded more announcements were to come, but the opposition insisted something needs to be done sooner, rather than later.
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