Quebec's director of youth protection steps down after rehabilitation centre sex scandal

The head of Quebec's youth protection system has stepped down after allegations of sexual misconduct by staff at a Montreal rehabilitation centre and an earlier scandal in the Mauricie region.

Lionel Carmant, the minister responsible for social services, told Radio-Canada Monday he asked Catherine Lemay to resign.

Lemay was the director of Quebec youth protection services, a position created to function as a watchdog over the entire network.

Last week, allegations surfaced that nine female educators working at the Cité-des-Prairies youth rehabilitation centre in Montreal's Rivière-des-Prairies neighbourhood had sexual relations with youth under their care. 

Many of those youth were allegedly minors at the time, according reporting by La Presse and Le Devoir. 

Montreal police have launched an investigation into the allegations, which could lead to criminal charges. The local health authority has also ordered an external investigation.

The reported events allegedly took place over at least a year. One worker at the centre allegedly became pregnant by one of the minors and had their child. 

Earlier this month, the youth protection office branch serving central Quebec and the Mauricie region was put under trusteeship, after a report said children were being removed from their parents too quickly.

Internal documents obtained by La Presse showed that many children in the region were put up for adoption without all the legal criteria having been met.

Carmant, who appointed Lemay to her position in 2021, said Monday that asking her to step down was a "difficult decision."

Carmant said Lemay was given the power to make changes but she wasn't firm enough to do so.

"I think for the future I want someone who is more aligned with my vision," he told Radio-Canada.