Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard explains himself in the National Assembly after breaking his promise not to raise daycare fees.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
Strip-searching children will no longer be allowed in Quebec schools, Premier Philippe Couillard has pledged.
Amid revelations a 15-year-old girl was forced to remove her clothes over suspicions she was hiding drugs in a Quebec City-area school, Mr. Couillard finally promised an end to the practice Thursday in the National Assembly. His government had shifted positions repeatedly over the week.
"On the question of strip searches in schools, the answer is no. We don't want them," Mr. Couillard said Thursday. "We need to get to the bottom of the facts [of this case], and check the policy to make sure there is no ambiguity where it concerns respect and dignity of people."
Earlier this week, Quebec Education Minister Yves Bolduc appeared to endorse strip searches of students, saying it was fine if done in a respectful manner. The Supreme Court severely curtailed the right of authorities to to conduct strip searches more than a decade ago, but it appears from several recent headlines that the practice has continued unabated in Quebec.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bolduc backed off from his endorsement, promising an independent review of the case and the province's policy. Pressed by the Parti Québécois opposition, Mr. Couillard went further Thursday, saying he no longer wants strip searches in Quebec.
The family of the 15-year-old girl has hired a lawyer and is contemplating a lawsuit.
Lawyer Francois David Bernier says the high school misinterpreted government guidelines on searching students and humiliated his client.
"In no case does the document talk about nude searches," Mr. Bernier said. "We blame the school board because it took the government document and interpreted it erroneously."
Mr. Bernier said he has not officially filed any documents in court and is still evaluating the damage done to his client.
He added that the family is not ruling out seeking punitive damages against the school and the governing board.
The Liberal somersaults on strip searches appeared to trigger a wider shift in communications strategy for the government this week, as the Premier's office severely curtailed media availability of ministers.
In the Quebec legislature, cabinet ministers and other members are routinely available to talk to reporters in the corridors. Sometimes a few dozen impromptu scrums between politicians and reporters can take place in a single day.
Ministers have repeatedly stirred up controversy for the Liberals, and none more than Mr. Bolduc, who famously started his career as education minister by proclaiming no student would die if the government stopped buying books amid budget cuts.
In Quebec, where the National Assembly press gallery and other journalism organizations are more powerful than those in other Canadian provinces, limiting journalist access to politicians comes with a price. In her 2014 bid for re-election, then-premier Pauline Marois's campaign was derailed for several days right from launch when she avoided holding the traditional daily press conference.
As with Ms. Marois's move, Mr. Couillard's muzzling of ministers got top billing in the province's newscasts Thursday.
Les Perreaux