Government of Nunavut denies that any inmate is deprived of treatment
Northern News Services online
17 September 2012
Jeanne Gagnon
A former Iglulik Catholic priest facing 78 charges was denied medical care while in custody, court heard on Sept. 10.
Eric Dejaeger‘s charges include 68 that are sex-related, one count each of failure to appear in court, uttering threats and unlawful confinement as well as three counts each of assault and use of violence to prevent reporting of suspicious activity.
The 65-year-old accused is also facing one count of indecent assault and gross indecency in Alberta.
Defence lawyer Malcolm Kempt told the Nunavut Court of Justice on Sept. 10 the accused has serious ailments, notably high blood pressure, a high iron count as well as heart and prostate problems.
He added that his client has been in solitary confinement for 19 months but has been denied medical care.
Kempt told the court Dejaeger was scheduled to visit a doctor this past January for his heart problem but the territorial government informed them he was not covered as he was not considered a resident.
In response to Kempt’s comments in court, the Department of Justice stated all inmates at the Baffin Correctional Centre receive “necessary medical treatment” and no one has been denied such care.
The justice department adds that corrections workers do not make treatment decisions related to an inmate’s health care.
“Necessary medical treatment is never denied to an inmate based on residency or the ability to pay,” wrote the Department of Justice in a statement.
“Health care and treatment decisions for inmates are made by nurses at BCC and medical staff at the Qikiqtani General Hospital.”
Dejaeger was deported to Canada from Belgium in January 2011.
He was arrested upon his arrival in this country in 2002 on a warrant for three charges of buggery and indecent assault for incidents alleged to have occurred in Iglulik between 1978 and 1982.
In 1990, Dejaeger was convicted on eight counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault in Baker Lake and was sentenced to five years in prison.
The accused waived his right to a preliminary hearing during his Jan. 9 court appearance.
Justice Robert Kilpatrick said the indictment needs to be ready for Oct. 1 and a trial date set then. Crown prosecutor Barry Nordin, speaking outside the courtroom, said the last of the information he required was received from police earlier this month and the Crown was cross-checking that information with the indictment.
The court has indicated his trial will be held in Iqaluit.
Dejaeger’s next court appearance is schedule for Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Note: There is a typo re Father Eric Dejager’s arrical in this country. It was 2012, not 2002.
So, typo aside, here is a little more information re Father Eric Dejaeger’s ‘ailments’ courtesy of a reader who follows the site.
So, according to his lawyer Dejaeger allegedly suffers from high blood pressure, a high iron count and heart and prostate problems.
According to his lawyer, Dejaeger was scheduled to visit a doctor this January past for a heart problem but the territorial government said he was not covered because he was no considered a resident.
And, according to his lawyer, Dejager has been in solitary confinement for 19 months.
Dejaeger has NOT been in solitary confinement for 19 months. He MAY have been in protective custody for some of those months, but not in solitary confinement. There is a difference. This was clarified in the 11 September 2012 Nunavut Department of Justice press release.
I mentioned before that I had submitted some questions to BCC. I learned today that I will have to wait until end week for a reply. The questions are really just those of human interest and not specific to Eric Dejaeger. I have a hard time believing that any inmate in Iqaluit is denied medical care or treatment so wanted to find for myself and for all of you how medical services are provided to inmates at the Baffin Correctional Centre. As soon as I get a reply I will post it.
*Protective custody is in case he runs into one of his now adult victims/survivors..He choose to segregate himself right from the beginning and no doubt for shame and fear as indicated above. He is not being treated like other inmates because they would have been brought in shackles and he instructed the court that he was not going to attend. I find it hard to believe that a territorial correction facility within Canada would not be to the same standards as other institutions in our country. I don’t think he has to much to complain about given he is being cared for as he was with his order well and to a quality of life to which he has become accustomed. We should care for the victims and the children of these northern communities as well. I don’t think he has many complaints about the cost of food in Nunavut while the majority of the population have a difficult time to meet their fundamental NUTRITION NEEDS. I guess they can beg at a rectory door for scraps..oh yeah that is how this whole thing started ..
*Right you are Michel!….The poor and uneducated had a target on their forehead and still do in parts of the world! “Prey”on the weak and innocent…
jg
This is now the full text of the article – the typo has been corrected. Note that the start time for Father Dejaeger’s 01 October court date is 1:30 pm.