AMHERST, NS | Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is calling on the RCMP and the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education (CCRCE) to explain what they knew, when they knew it, and what steps they took to protect students during a child luring investigation involving an Amherst-area school bus driver.
The RCMP says the investigation began in October. On November 5, police announced that Luc Georges Castonguay had been charged with luring a child and making sexually explicit material available to a child. In a message to families, CCRCE said the RCMP notified it of the arrest and charges late in the afternoon on November 3 and that it placed Castonguay on unpaid leave. But when did CCRCE first learn that he was under investigation?
“The safety of students must come first in the decisions made by both police and school officials,” said Smith-McCrossin. “Did the RCMP notify CCRCE when police first received the allegation or opened the investigation? If they didn’t, why not? Families deserve to know what steps were taken to protect their children while the investigation was underway.”
Smith-McCrossin is calling on CCRCE to issue a public statement confirming whether it knew about the allegations or the investigation before November 3, when Castonguay last transported students, and what steps it took once it became aware. If he continued in duties that gave him access to students after CCRCE learned of the investigation, she is asking CCRCE to explain why.
“Parents trust the adults responsible for their children’s safety to act when a concern of this seriousness comes to light,” said Smith-McCrossin. “Families are anxious and deserve a clear account of how police and school officials handled concerns about student safety while the investigation was underway.”