Researcher Martin Goyette candidate to become children's rights commissioner

Photo: Website of the National School of Public Administration Martin Goyette is known in particular for his research on the services offered to young people placed after leaving the youth protection network.

The Legault government has found its watchdog for Quebec youth. Le Devoir has learned that it intends to propose the name of researcher and professor Martin Goyette to fill the position of Commissioner for the Welfare and Rights of Children.

The Minister responsible for Social Services, Lionel Carmant, is preparing to ask the National Assembly if it will approve the appointment of this youth protection expert, holder of the Research Chair on the Evaluation of Public Actions for Youth and Vulnerable Populations (CREVAJ), known in particular for his research on the services offered to young people placed after leaving the youth protection system. Quebec elected officials will have to approve this proposal by a two-thirds vote.

At the time of writing, it was impossible to confirm the timing of this vote in the House.

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Created this year in the wake of the CAQ reform of the Youth Protection Department (DPJ), the Commissioner for the Welfare and Rights of Children is a sort of youth ombudsman position. According to the law, its holder will have to “ensure the protection of the interests of the child,” by analyzing, among other things, “the state of child welfare in Quebec” and by supporting “children in the exercise of their rights.”

Assisted by an assistant commissioner and advisory committees made up of children and young adults who are representative “as far as possible” of Quebec’s diversity, he will have to constantly monitor child deaths in Quebec. He will also have to do so for people aged 18 to 25 “for whom an investigation or inquest has been carried out under the Coroners Act”.

Specialist in the future of young people in care

The Children's Welfare and Rights Commissioner Act provides that the Commissioner must have “significant experience in promoting the welfare and respect for the rights of children.” Holder of a doctorate in social work and a postdoctorate in urban studies, Martin Goyette is best known in the media for the longitudinal study he has been conducting since 2017 on the future of young people in care.

This study, which followed more than 1,000 young people leaving the DPJ network, had already concluded that one in five young people from Quebec social services finds themselves homeless in the year following their 18th birthday.

In a new part of his study published Wednesday, Mr. Goyette and his team also conclude that these same young people use mental health services ten times more than the general population.

Contacted Wednesday morning, Mr. Goyette did not elaborate on his possible accession to the position of commissioner. “It is certain that the establishment of the Office of the Commissioner is a very important element for Quebec,” he said, without confirming whether or not he had been approached. “Given the work that I have been doing for twenty years […], I want to support the vision of the Office of the Commissioner that is being established.”

When asked about this again, Mr. Goyette said he hoped that “it would not be an empty shell.” “There must be resources associated with a position of commissioner,” he said.