Liberals call for firings, accountability in wake of former P.E.I. teacher's sex crimes case

For the sixth day of debate in a row, tensions continued to rise in the P.E.I. Legislature around the issue of safety in Island schools after a former substitute teacher pleaded guilty to sexually touching a primary student. 

The two opposition parties took different tacks Thursday when it came to questioning the Progressive Conservative government about the case of Matthew Alan Craswell. 

The Liberals focused on who knew what and when, while the Green Party wanted to know what's been done to safeguard schools now. 

Opposition Leader Hal Perry asked why nobody has been fired over the incidents, and went as far as to call the government's response a "coverup."

"Parents are concerned, they're worried and they need answers. Somebody needs to step up and take accountability for this," the Liberal politician said after question period. 

"Someone needs to be [accountable] for these missteps in the process that was supposed to be taking place…. To me, it's obvious there's a coverup."

Craswell, 40, pleaded guilty on April 29 to sexual interference in a case involving an elementary student at Stratford's Glen Stewart Primary School. 

He was first arrested last summer on an unrelated charge of possession and distribution of child pornography after an internet watchdog organization in the United States flagged his internet activity.

New information came to light during the RCMP's investigation, details of which were shared in court last week as Craswell pleaded guilty to four charges.

CBC News is aware of one other incident involving a student at an unidentified Charlottetown elementary school in June 2023, but Craswell faces no charges in relation to that.

The P.E.I. Public Schools Branch has confirmed that Craswell continued to work as a substitute teacher in Island high schools as late as the spring of 2024, after the two known incidents were reported. 

In the legislature, the government's message hasn't changed much over the course of six business days of intense scrutiny over its handling of the case, starting on the day Premier Rob Lantz stood to deliver an apology to Islanders over what had been reported in court about Craswell's behaviour. 

Provincial officials have said Craswell's actions were horrific, but that they had to let the process unfold in court to preserve his right to a fair trial.

Education Minister Robin Croucher has ordered a third-party review of the PSB's policies and procedures. It will be conducted by former P.E.I. chief justice David Jenkins, beginning on June 2.