Lesley Hill becomes National Director of Youth Protection

Photo: Getty Images iStockphoto In addition to her role as the head of the DPJ, Lesley Hill will also occupy the position of assistant deputy minister, as provided for by law.

The former commissioner of the Special Commission on the Rights of Children and Youth Protection Lesley Hill is taking the helm of the DPJ, two days after her predecessor resigned.

The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, confirmed Wednesday at the end of a Cabinet meeting that Ms. Hill, a former member of what is known as the “Laurent Commission,” would soon replace Catherine Lemay as national director of youth protection. Radio-Canada had first reported this information in the morning.

Trained in social work and with long-standing experience in youth protection, Lesley Hill co-signed the final report of the Special Commission on Children's Rights and Youth Protection in 2021 with Régine Laurent and several others. In a press scrum on Wednesday, Minister Carmant welcomed the arrival at the head of the DPJ of Ms. Hill, who “has a vision very similar to [his].”

“This is the start of a new direction. We will work hand in hand to resolve the problem of the various rehabilitation centres,” stressed the CAQ elected official, two days after promising a “major clean-up” following the publication of a series of articles on the sex scandal at the centre for young people with adjustment difficulties in Cité-des-Prairies.

Since the publication of the “Laurent report” three and a half years ago, Lesley Hill has repeatedly issued public criticisms of the management of the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) network in Quebec.

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In an open letter published in 2023 with several signatories, including the former vice-president of the Laurent commission, she had notably denounced the too small place given to social services in the context of the creation of the Santé Québec agency. She has also been particularly vocal about the progress — too slow, in her eyes — of the reform of the network.

“National priority”

In a short message published as a preamble to the Laurent Commission’s final report, Ms. Hill stressed in 2021 that the well-being of children deserved to be “raised to the top of the list of national priorities.” “Unfortunately, too many young Quebecers live in precarious situations within distressed families, struggling with difficult living conditions and a multitude of daily challenges,” she wrote.

Asked about her appointment on Wednesday, the former vice-president of the commission, André Lebon, was full of praise for his former colleague. “I think this is the best possible appointment under the circumstances,” he stressed in an interview with Le Devoir. “This woman knows all the facets of the responsibilities she will have. That is to say, both the first line, which is lacking, as well as youth protection, as well as rehabilitation. ”

Asked about the person who will occupy the position of national director on Tuesday, the Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, said he was looking for someone capable of communicating and sharing the government's vision for youth protection.

Even though he has “great confidence in Ms. Hill,” Solidarity MP Guillaume Cliche-Rivard proposed on Wednesday that an appointment of this importance be made by a two-thirds vote in the National Assembly.

The interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), Marc Tanguay, for his part welcomed this as “good news.” The Parti Québécois’ health and social services critic, Joël Arseneau, added that Ms. Hill seemed “completely competent” to him.

Beyond her role as the head of the DPJ, Lesley Hill will occupy the position of assistant deputy minister, as provided for by law.

Read also

• The big boss of the DPJ leaves her post
• Editorial | Palpable dismay at the top of the DPJ
• The youth centre of Cité-des-Prairies targeted by an investigation
• “It's sickening,” says Carmant on the scandal at the youth centre of Cité-des-Prairies