Yukon Party wants 3rd-party investigation on Hidden Valley abuse case, some parents call for resignations

The Yukon Party is calling for an independent investigation into the education department's handling of a sexual abuse case at Whitehorse's Hidden Valley Elementary School, saying the government cannot be trusted to review itself. 

Meanwhile, two Hidden Valley parents say they're still seeking accountability from the department, with one saying a growing number of parents want the resignations of high-ranking education officials — including the former minister. 

Yukon Party leader Currie Dixon said in an interview Sept. 28 that his party has had "serious questions about the conduct of the government" regarding the situation, and even more so after  CBC News reported a briefing note was prepared for then-education minister Tracy McPhee in March 2020. 

The note outlined the criminal proceedings against now-former Hidden Valley educational assistant William Auclair-Bellemare, who was arrested in 2019 for sexually abusing a student in his care. 

"[The documents] demonstrate that this went right to the top of the department, including the minister's office," Dixon said of the decision to not publicly share any information about Auclair-Bellemare until after CBC News reported on a lawsuit filed by the victim in July. 

"... We think at this stage now it's clear that the Liberal government cannot investigate themselves on this —  they need to have an independent third party investigation take place."

Two additional alleged victims have since been identified.