Rewrite - The Yukon Party says it’s “deeply disturbed” to learn that more charges have been laid against a former education assistant at Hidden Valley School.

The charges occurred after another alleged victim came forward.

In 2020, the former education assistant was convicted of sexual interference in relation to a 2019 incident at the school and sentenced to a jail term.

“It is even more disturbing that these new charges were only brought forward because of the media reporting on a civil case against the Yukon government by parents of the first victim,” the Yukon Party said Monday afternoon.

“It has become clear that the Liberal government knew about the initial allegations against the former educational assistant when they were first brought forward in November 2019.

“Furthermore, the Liberal government was aware that the abuser pled guilty to one count of sexual interference in 2020. However, despite this dating back almost two years, parents only learned of this after CBC broke the initial story in July 2021.”

Last Friday, it was announced that the previous day, the Yukon RCMP Specialized Response Unit had arrested William Auclair-Bellemare, 34, of Whitehorse. He has been charged with offences related to incidents occurring between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2018.

Auclair-Bellemare has been charged with sexual exploitation, sexual assault, sexual interference and the invitation to sexual touching. He appeared in court last Friday, and CBC Yukon reports he has since been released on bail.

The court has imposed a publication ban on further details of the case.

Yukon Party MLA Brad Cathers said he has written to Education Minister Jeanie McLean multiple times to inquire about when Liberal ministers knew about the alleged abuse, “and why the government chose not to communicate with parents, teachers, or the school community about it years ago.

“So far, the minister has refused to answer key questions,” Cathers said.

The most recent charges confirm “the disturbing reality” that if the parents of the first victim had not launched a civil suit against the offender and the government, “then Yukoners would still be in the dark about this tragic abuse,” the party said.

“The Yukon Party is calling on the Liberal government, in the strongest possible terms, to explain to Yukoners why they chose not to communicate with parents, teachers, or Yukoners about the initial abuse and why it took a private civil case to bring these allegations to light.”

“Many parents have reached out to me since the initial story broke in July,” said Cathers. The elementary school is located in his Lake Laberge riding.

“It has been appalling to see the government not provide answers to many of the questions I have asked on their behalf,” Cathers said.

“This Liberal government cannot continue to hide from this – parents deserve to know why they were not notified when someone in close contact with their children had pled guilty to sexual interference.”

Opposition Leader Currie Dixon said there are “serious questions that need to be answered about the Liberal government and their lack of communication, and why they are not co-operating fully with the Child and Youth Advocate’s review into these matters.”

The advocate, Annette King, said last month she planned to review how the situation at the school was handled.

McLean has told the Star that King lacks the authority to conduct her review, and that the government could offer no further comment on the situation because of the civil suit.

King has countered that it’s wrong to suggest she lacks the authority to conduct her review.

Last Friday, the Education department addressed the situation in a letter sent to parents of Hidden Valley students.

In a statement provided to the Star this morning, McLean said “there is nothing more important than the safety and protection of children when they are in our care.

“We recognize these additional charges against the former EA, which span between 2014-2018, are extremely troubling and upsetting.

“... The Department of Education’s priority right now is to ensure all students, families and staff are aware of the supports available and that they are enabled to access them in a way that meets their needs,” McLean said.

“We fully acknowledge the trust of families at Hidden Valley was broken and that there are ripple effects on our community more broadly. There is trust to rebuild, and the Department of Education is collaborating with the school council in supporting the school community staff, students and families.”

McLean also addressed King’s goal of reviewing what has happened.

“We value the work of the Child and Youth Advocate and discussions continue, regarding the role of the advocate’s office, in reviewing the Government of Yukon’s response and guiding policies in respect to sexualized violence and abuse, including supports for students,” the minister said.