Toronto Star says YG Settling Sex Abuse Cases Against Former Principal and Foster Parent

Wednesday, 18 October 2017 10:53

At least six people have sued the government and the abuser.

The Toronto Star has published an article, claiming the Yukon government is quietly settling civil sexual abuse cases against it and a former school principal, who was also a foster parent. The victims were several Aboriginal children, who were abused between the 1960’s and 1980’s. The Star describes the perpetrator only as “J.V.” due to a publication ban, which is till in place to protect the identity of his foster care victims. The man was convicted in 1987 on five charges, and sentenced to five-years each in federal prison to run concurrently.

At least six people have sued the Yukon government and J.V. for the abuse suffered since 2007. Some of those cases are settled, but are confidential. In the Legislature Monday, New Democrat leader Liz Hanson (Whitehorse Centre) says the confidential settlements amount to a gag order, which could re-victimize people. “To force a victim of sexual violence to a settlement or face the threat of having their own legal history used against them doesn’t recognize the long-term and intergenerational impacts of abuse. It serves neither the public’s nor the victim’s interests. The Yukon government must take the next step on the path of reconciliation.” “The government’s requirement for confidentiality agreements that prevent victims from telling their story is not just. The very least government can do is give survivors the choice to use their voice. Gag orders do not serve the public interest, nor do they help victims. Survivors should be in control of what is publicly known. Will the government stop demanding confidentiality agreements when settling with victims of sexual abuse, so that survivors’ voices are not silent?”

Justice Minister Tracey McPhee (Riverdale South) wouldn’t specifically address the Toronto Star article, but condemned abuse against children. “I want to make sure that I am clear that the victimization of children at any time, for any reason, in any context is reprehensible and cannot be permitted to continue. It just isn’t something that society can permit and it must be something that we address. Victims of all ages must be able to come forward in confidence and they must be able to come forward to seek help in whatever form they need. They must be believed, they must be met with compassion and understanding, and they must be able to deal with the system, however they need to, for their own personal healing.”

Outside the Legislature, McPhee could not say how many cases were settled and for how much, but she did note there was one case concluded, while the Liberals were in government. “The only one I know about that’s been resolved, at the time we were in government was resolved by an outside lawyer, an insurance company lawyer. Not an in-house lawyer, so, no direction from legal services.”

The Star says the man has been released from prison and resides outside of Whitehorse.

(Dan Jones Oct. 17, 2017)