THE SUPERIOR COURT HAS AUTHORIZED A CLASS ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH ISOLATION OR CONFINEMENT MEASURES AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN CENTRES COMMITTED AGAINST MINOR PERSONS PLACED UNDER A YOUTH OFFENDERS ACT

MONTREAL, Jan. 16, 2026 /CNW/ - On September 19, 2025, the Superior Court of Québec authorized a class action for damages against the Government of Québec (represented by the Attorney General of Québec) and Santé Québec, acting through sixteen (16) integrated (university) health and social services centres (also known as IUHSSC, IHSSC, CIUSSS and CISSS).

This class action concerns the imposition of isolation or confinement measures, as well as sexual abuse committed against children placed in a Centre across the province of Quebec since 1950.

A person is automatically a member of this class action if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They were placed in a Centre on or after October 1, 1950, while they were 17 years old or younger.
  
  • For the purposes of the class action, a Center includes an industrial school, a youth protection school, a charitable institution, a reception centre, a secured unit, a detention centre, a transition centre, a child and youth protection centre, a rehabilitation centre, a rehabilitation centre for young persons with adjustment problems, an intensive supervision unit, and a youth centre. It excludes an hospital centre, a group home or a foster family. The Mont d'Youville reception centre is also excluded from the class action, as it is already the subject of another class action currently underway.
• They were placed in a centre pursuant to a young offenders law;
• During their placement at the centre,
  • they were sexually assaulted; and/or 
  • they were subject to one or several of the following measures:
    • they were placed in a isolation cell for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were confined in a common area of the Centre for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were confined in their room for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were confined in a cell for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were confined in an intensive supervision unit for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were subjected to "stop action" for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were subjected go withdrawal period ("timeout") for disciplinary or administrative purposes;
    • they were subjected to the use of force by any mechanical or physical means (for example, a straitjacket, handcuffs, or chains);
    • they were subjected to the use of force by any chemical substances or medical intervention (for example, medication);
    • they were subjected to strip searches with or without touching.

• They did not receive financial assistance and sign a release pursuant to the National Program of Reconciliation with the Duplessis Orphans or the National Reconciliation Program for Duplessis Orphans Who Were Residents of Certain Institutions. However, in some circumstances (explained in the full-length notice to the class members), a person having signed such a release may still be a member of the class action.
• They are not included in the class definition in the matter Dandy v. Attorney General of Quebec et al (500-06-001265-236).

The Superior Court appointed A.D. as the representative of all class members. On their behalf, A.D. claims that the Government of Québec and Santé Québec are liable for the imposition of isolation and confinement measures, as well as for sexual abuse committed against children admitted to the centres. He asks that the Superior Court order the defendants to pay damages to the class members, including himself.

Those allegations and the defendants' purported liability remain to be proven. The Superior Court will be required to decide, following a trial, whether the defendants were at fault and whether and to what extent damages should be paid to the class members.

If they do not want to be included in the class action and do not want to obtain a payment if the class action is settled or granted by the court, class members may opt out of the class action at the latest on February 16, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. The means of opting out are specified in the full-length notice to class members. All class members who will not have opted out prior to the expiry of this deadline will be bound by any judgment rendered in the class action.

For additional information about the class action, please consult the full-length notice to the class members available at the following address:

https://www.registredesactionscollectives.quebec/fr/Consulter/ApercuDemande?NoDossier=500-06-001269-238

Counsel for A.D. and all class members, identified below, may also be contacted by the following means:

Another notice to the class members will be published if any settlement is entered into by the parties or once a final judgment is rendered on the class action.

THE PUBLICATION OF THIS PRESS RELEASE HAS BEEN ORDERED BY THE COURT.

SOURCE Proactio