Former P.E.I. chief justice to lead school review in wake of former substitute's sex charges

WARNING: This story contains descriptions of child sex abuse and other content that may be disturbing to readers.

The P.E.I. government has appointed a former provincial chief justice to lead a review of policies and procedures in Island schools to protect students from sexual predators. 

In the legislature Tuesday, Education Minister Robin Croucher said David Jenkins will head up that third-party review of the Public Schools Branch and its practices. 

The inquiry comes after a former substitute teacher pleaded guilty last week to sexual interference in a case involving an elementary student. 

"We're going to be looking at the policies and procedures and figuring out where they need to be strengthened so that we can protect our students moving forward [and] give our educators the tools and the education and the knowledge to implement the policies and procedures," Croucher said after question period. 

The system did fall down somewhere along the way, and how serious that is, how significant that was will be determined in this investigation.— Education and Early Years Minister Robin Croucher

"The system did fall down somewhere along the way, and how serious that is, how significant that was will be determined in this investigation." 

Matthew Alan Craswell, 40, was first charged last summer with possession and distribution of child pornography after the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children flagged his internet activity.

New information came to light during the RCMP investigation, details of which were shared in court last week as Craswell pleaded guilty to four charges related to child sex abuse images and an unrelated incident in which he sexually touched a young girl in a classroom in front of other students at a Stratford primary school.

Court documents indicate school officials were made aware of the primary school incident, but it was not reported to police. Craswell continued to work in schools with older children after the Public Schools Branch was informed. 

He worked as a substitute teacher on P.E.I. as recently as the spring of 2024.

This government has an obligation to answer questions from parents who are really scared about the safety of their children.— Hal Perry, Opposition Liberal leader

On Tuesday, Croucher gave his Education Department credit for moving "swiftly" in ordering the third-party review.

But the Opposition said it's not moving fast enough, given Craswell's activities took place over a two-year period. 

Hal Perry, the interim Liberal leader, said the province needs to order an investigation, not just a review of Public Schools Branch policies. 

"This government has an obligation to answer questions from parents who are really scared about the safety of their children in the school system and how this could possibly have happened," Perry said. 

"Maybe other cases have happened that [they're] not even aware of — and they want to prevent it from ever happening again." 

While the province is still drawing up terms of reference for the review, Croucher said Jenkins will have the power to compel documents and witnesses, much as he would in a public inquiry. 

There are questions around:

• why the Public Schools Branch allowed Craswell to continue teaching after allegations were brought up twice;
• why school officials didn't initially notify police; and
• whether it was possible for a vulnerable sector check conducted by the RCMP to turn up a 2018 extradition order from South Korea for Craswell regarding voyeurism allegations in that country. 

Jenkins's review will begin June 2, and the province said the final report will be made public.

Croucher has committed to implementing any recommendations that come out of it as quickly as possible. 

"I do not believe there was any [malicious] intent by any member of our education system in this situation," he said. "But if there was, it will be investigated, it will be uncovered and it will be dealt with." 

There are resources and supports available to anyone who has experienced sexual violence:

• Victim Services P.E.I. / Queens and Kings County: 902-368-4582; Prince County: 902-888-8218
• Rise P.E.I.  / Phone or text: 902-218-6143
• P.E.I. Rape and Sexual Assault Centre / Call: 902-368-8055 or 1-888-368-8055
• Here is a list of sexual assault centres, crisis lines and support services elsewhere in Canada.