Nunavut nurse accused of sexually assaulting patient

A nurse who worked at Iqaluit’s Qikiqtani General Hospital faces allegations of sexually assaulting a patient.

Raymond Labrecque, who worked at QGH until he was charged in December, made his first appearance on one count of sexual assault in front of a Justice of the Peace in Iqaluit Jan. 20, according to court files.

His next court appearance is scheduled for March 7.

Gabriel Zarate, a spokesman with Nunavut’s Department of Health and Social Services, said Labrecque hasn’t worked at the hospital since his arrest.

“He was suspended right away,” Zarate said, adding he couldn’t reveal if Labrecque quit or was fired, citing employee confidentiality rules.

Labrecque had worked as a general duty nurse in Nunavut since 2004, despite being subject to reprimands and suspensions in both Quebec and Ontario.

In 2002, Labrecque was disciplined by the Quebec nursing board for sexually abusing a patient. In 2006, after he began working in Nunavut, he was reprimanded and placed under surveillance in Ontario.

According to a decision by the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Quebec nursing board had found him guilty of two counts of professional misconduct and he pleaded guilty to a third.

“All relate to incidents of violating client boundaries,” the Ontario decision stated.

What isn’t clear is why the Government of Nunavut would continue to employ Labrecque as a nurse in spite of his record of reprimands and suspensions in Quebec and Ontario.

Zarate said the GN would offer no comment on that question.

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