Dozens of demonstrators were invited to the Baie-Trinité council meeting to denounce the injustice inflicted on a municipal employee who was unable to return to work after being sexually assaulted by her employer, Mayor Denis Lejeune.
“Following his conviction, the Mayor was able to pursue his mandate while the victim was left out in the cold.” CUPE supports and will continue to support Caroline Lamarre who was able to lift the publication ban on her name only last month in order to publicly denounce what happened to her,” said Steve Bargoné, the CUPE counsel who pleaded the case for lifting the publication ban.
Lamarre had filed the complaint against her employer in June 2013. Mayor Lejeune was found guilty in July 2015 and sentencing was pronounced on January 29, 2016. He received 120 hours of community service and two years probation, and was required to make a donation of $4000. According to the law, because he did not have to spend more than 30 days in jail, Lejeune was allowed to remain in office. Which he did.
“Caroline Lamarre wants to return to work. She has children to feed. Why should she be victimized twice? A victim of assault and a victim of job loss!” concluded Bargoné.