Echaquan family files $2.7M suit over her death
Husband calls on Legault to admit there's systemic racism in Quebec
As the family files a nearly $2.7-million lawsuit against the hospital where she died, Joyce Echaquan's husband is once again calling on François Legault to recognize systemic racism exists in Quebec.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Carol Dubé said he received a “very touching” letter from Legault in response to an invitation to attend this week's two-year memorial for Echaquan's death.
But Dubé said he still can't accept that Legault refuses to recognize systemic racism is an issue in the province.
“I'm asking him for proof that systemic racism doesn't exist in public institutions,” Dubé said. “Before this tragedy, the things that should have been changed were not changed. And we're still waiting.”
Dubé made the comments while the family's lawyer, Patrick Martin-ménard, unveiled the details of a new lawsuit filed over Echaquan's death on Thursday.
Echaquan, a 37-year-old Atikamekw mother of seven, died in the Joliette hospital two years ago after filming staff insulting her. The video of her pleading for help, which she broadcast live on Facebook, sparked widespread indignation across Canada.
A coroner has since found her death was accidental, but the “racism and prejudice” she faced at the hospital contributed to it.
The lawsuit targets the CISSS de Lanaudière, the regional health board that oversees the hospital, as well as a nurse and doctor who worked there.
The nurse in question, Paule Rocray, was heard on video insulting Echaquan.
During a news conference, Martin-ménard said Echaquan's family suffered an enormous prejudice as a result of her death and the circumstances surrounding it. Though no amount of money will bring her back, he added, the goal of seeking compensation is to help the family move forward.
The suit seeks compensation for Echaquan's seven children, her mother, late father, sister-in-law and husband.
“It's difficult to go through this today,” Echaquan's mother, Diane Dubé, said on Thursday.
“But we want justice for my daughter, for Joyce,” Diane Dubé said.
The 35-page suit argues the CISSS de Lanaudière knew of the way Atikamekw people from Manawan were mistreated at the hospital before Echaquan's death, in part due to the Viens Commission.
During the commission, more than 20 people from the community testified about the poor treatment they received at the hospital. But, the suit argues, the health board “wrongfully and negligently” failed to take the necessary measures to address the issue.
As for the nurse, Rocray, the suit argues that instead of caring for Echaquan the way she should have, she “made derogatory remarks of a racist and prejudicial nature” about her. It's seeking $20,000 in punitive damages from her.
Martin-ménard said the lawsuit is only one of several avenues the family is taking to try to address what happened. He noted the suit will also be sent to Quebec's order of nurses and the Collège des médecins for them to “review the conduct of the professionals involved.”
From a political standpoint, Atikamekw Grand Chief Constant Awashish, on hand to support the family on Thursday, said there remains much work to be done in Quebec to educate the public about Indigenous issues.
“We're not doing this for fun, we're doing this because we want justice for Joyce, but also justice for all Indigenous people,” Awashish said.
“We want to be able to grow old knowing our children or grandchildren can live their identity to the fullest, can feel comfortable in who they are, and can safely receive public services.”
Dubé, for his part, said he's still adjusting to his new reality two years later. He thanked his community for all the support he's received and said he finds strength in his children.
At times emotional, Dubé said he hopes the lawsuit can help the family and anyone else touched by Echaquan's death heal.
It's also another way of trying to ensure what happened to his wife never happens again, he added.
“I'm still very lost,” Dubé said, trailing off. “But this is a new chapter I'm starting.”