Jean Simard, an alleged victim of sexual and physical abuse suffered while at the Mont d’Youville orphanage in Quebec City, delayed a press briefing on the sale of the Sisters of Charity land last Thursday morning, to hear.
The Legault government announced Thursday that it has acquired the land of Sisters of Charity, one of the largest green spaces located in Quebec City territory, to build an agricultural innovation park there.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, André Lamontagne, and the Mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, were among the dignitaries present at the event.
Calmly, Jean Simard cut the press conference to ask speakers if the money used for the project could be used to pay the asylum victims. He also criticized the collaboration between the Sisters of Charity and the Quebec government.
What I found very vague was to see the government sitting with the Sisters of Charitysaid Mr. Simard at the end of the press conference.
Collective action
The Sisters of Charity managed the Mont d’Youville orphanage until 1996, before government social services took over.
In 2020, the Superior Court allowed a class action regarding the attacks that allegedly took place at the orphanage, stating that the debate should also focus on the mistakes allegedly made by the congregation.
Sisters of Charity, which managed the orphanage until 1996, was among the institutions targeted by the class action. The period covered by class action runs from 1925 to 1996.
The slowness of procedures
Jean Simard judged stopping the case. He regrets the slowness of the procedures and the fact that the alleged victims were not included in the case.
I was one of the victims. We have been in the process for four years. The victims are completely out of file. No one is talking to us. There, we had a small audience because the press conference was interruptedsaid Jean Simard.
” We need to hear. These people […] who goes on is there, in front, holding hands, talking to millions. I see that as immoral and I have to say it. “
He asked the Quebec government to intervene with lawyers to expedite the proceedings. We are not 600 liarsinsisted the man, specifying the number of alleged victims.
Mr. Simard argued that the attacker had been convicted and sentenced. What do they want to know by asking me? The smell of his perfume when he kissed me after he beat me?
He hopes the alleged victims will receive compensation soon.
Source: Radio-Canada
