Question Period Note: Litigation concerning Louvicourt Residence

N.A.

• The Government of Canada did not own or operate Louvicourt Residence.
• Our actions in this litigation have not been to delay, but to seek to add parties who can assist the court in determining the relevant issues.
• Canada will continue to litigate in a manner reflective of the truth of the roles of actors at non-federal institutions.

Louvicourt is a certified (on consent) class action on behalf of former students residing at the non-federal Pavilion Notre-Dame-de-la-Route (Louvicourt) Student Residence that suffered physical and sexual abuse during their residency. The representative plaintiff is the Chief of the Anicinapek de Kitcisakik. The insurer for residence, Royal and Sun Alliance, was also named in the action. Louvicourt was a privately owned student residence that opened following the closure of the Amos Indian Residential School and was in operation from September 1975 to June 1991. The residence was administered by a not-for-profit corporation under the direction of a Board of Directors that included Father Brouillard, an Oblate member, and representatives of the Kitcisakik Band Council.
Canada provided funding to support the Status Indian students in residence through fee agreements but did not contribute to the costs of building the residence, nor was Canada involved in the operations of the residence. Father Edmond Brouillard, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was the president. Father Brouillard was convicted in 1996 and sentenced to five years in prison for indecent assault, sexual touching, sexual assault and gross indecency. He is deceased.
In 2025, the plaintiffs sought to remove the Insurer, leaving Canada as the sole defendant. Canada is appealing that decision. Also in 2025, Canada sought to add various parties to the litigation, including the Band, former administrators, and the Oblate order. That request was denied by the court in January 2026. Canada is considering appeal.

If pressed on whether Canada will appeal the decision
• Canada is analyzing the court’s decision.
• Any appeal will be brought within court deadlines.