In the early hours of February 3, what began as a welfare check on an abandoned child would soon captivate Quebec and raise difficult questions about our child protection systems. The seven-year-old girl, found alone in a Plateau-Mont-Royal apartment, had reportedly been there for days. The child’s mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor, appeared at the Montreal courthouse Friday where Judge Salvatore Mascia denied her release on bail.
“The court finds the evidence against the accused to be overwhelming,” Judge Mascia stated during Friday’s hearing. “The nature of the allegations represents a serious breach of the most fundamental duties of a parent.”
I spent three days reviewing court documents and speaking with sources close to the case. The mother faces multiple charges including criminal negligence, failure to provide necessities of life, and abandonment of a child. These charges carry potential sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment under sections 215 and 218 of the Criminal Code.
The case first came to light when neighbors contacted police after noticing the child alone for an extended period. Officers who responded to the scene described finding the apartment in “deplorable condition” with limited food supplies. The girl was immediately taken into protective custody by Quebec’s youth protection services (DPJ).
Defense lawyer Marie-Hélène Giroux argued for her client’s release, citing her lack of criminal record and willingness to comply with strict conditions. “My client has strong community ties and poses no flight risk,” Giroux told the court. She proposed the mother could reside with a family member while awaiting trial.
Crown prosecutor Amélie Rivard opposed bail, emphasizing the severity of the alleged abandonment. “This child was left completely alone without adequate provisions or supervision for a period we believe extended beyond 72 hours,” Rivard stated. She pointed to evidence suggesting this wasn’t an isolated incident.
I spoke with Annie Fournelle, a child welfare advocate with Montreal’s Bureau d’aide juridique, who wasn’t surprised by the denial of bail. “In cases where there’s an apparent disregard for a child’s basic welfare, courts tend to prioritize protection principles,” Fournelle explained. “The threshold for release becomes much higher.”
Court documents reveal the mother claimed she had arranged for someone to check on her daughter periodically, though investigators found no evidence supporting this assertion. Police testimony indicated the child appeared malnourished and distressed when found.
The girl has since been placed in temporary foster care while authorities conduct a more thorough assessment of her well-being and family situation. Sources within youth protection services told me such evaluations typically take between 30-60 days, examining both immediate safety concerns and longer-term placement options.
Quebec’s DPJ handled approximately 117,000 reports of children in potentially dangerous situations last year, according to their annual report. However, cases involving criminal charges against parents represent a small percentage of their overall caseload.
Dr. Gilles Fortin, a pediatrician specializing in child maltreatment at CHU Sainte-Justine, explained the potential impacts of abandonment. “Beyond physical needs, abandonment creates profound psychological distress in children,” Fortin said. “They experience acute anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, and often blame themselves.”
The case has sparked renewed debate about Quebec’s child protection services, which have faced criticism following several high-profile failures in recent years. In 2019, the tragic death of a seven-year-old girl in Granby prompted a provincial commission on children’s rights, resulting in 139 recommendations for systemic reform.
“We’ve seen incremental improvements,” said Catherine Kozminski, director of the Quebec Coalition for Children’s Rights. “But cases like this demonstrate persistent gaps in early intervention and prevention.”
Court records indicate authorities had previous contact with the family, though the nature and extent of this involvement remains sealed by youth protection confidentiality laws. Multiple sources confirmed the mother had been referred to parenting support services in the past year.
The mother remained stoic during the proceedings, speaking only briefly to confirm she understood the judge’s decision. Her next court appearance is scheduled for March 18, where a preliminary hearing date will be set.
Defense attorney Giroux indicated they would consider appealing the bail decision. “We respect the court’s ruling but maintain that appropriate conditions could have been established to address the Crown’s concerns,” she told reporters outside the courthouse.
For now, the seven-year-old remains in the care of strangers while the justice system determines both her future and her mother’s fate. Like many cases involving child welfare, this one exists at the intersection of criminal justice, social services, and family rights—with a child’s wellbeing hanging in the balance.
The case continues as Quebec legislators debate Bill 15, which would reform youth protection services across the province. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen early intervention programs and improve coordination between agencies responsible for child welfare.
