Acting Crown attorney in a coma in an Ottawa hospital

Cornwall Standard Freeholder

31 March 2009

Acting city Crown attorney Guy D. Simard, 47, is in a coma after contracting an unknown illness during a recent trip to Mexico, a family member said.

Simard is in Ottawa General Hospital, where he admitted himself after gradually feeling worse since he returned from the trip on March 22.

"We don't know, the hospital doesn't know (what he contracted)," said Lise Lavictoire, Simard's aunt.

Lavictoire confirmed that Simard is on a respirator and awaiting a blood transfusion.

"They're doing other tests," she added. "They said he's very strong, so they have hope."

Simard is surrounded by family at the hospital, she said, including his mother, wife and son.

Murray MacDonald, director of prosecutors for eastern Ontario, said he will be monitoring Simard's health before deciding on a course of action about his duties.

Simard, a graduate of the University of Ottawa, took on the position of acting Crown attorney in January after Mac- Donald, Cornwall's former Crown attorney, took on a contract position in Ottawa.

"He is very ill right now," said a colleague of Simard at the Ministry of the Attorney General.

"We're hoping he can pull through this illness."