Quebec to investigate Laval group home after string of runaways

The Quebec government says it's taking steps to address a string ofrunaways from a Laval group home.

Lucie Charlebois, Quebec's minister for youth protection, told a newsconference this morning she'll send an auditor to the CentreJeunesse de Laval to look into the matter, saying she wants an "independent" review.

"We have to make sure that all the girls [who] go into [youth protection]are sufficiently protected," Charlebois said in Quebec City.

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Five teens who were staying atthe group home have run awaysince late last month.

Four have been found safe.

The recent string of disappearances has prompted advocates to call fora public inquiry into the centre.

'It's not only Laval'

Charlebois saidthe province is also reviewing protocols for grouphomes, including how to handle the problem of people using socialmedia to reach out to vulnerable teenage girls.

She saidthe government will develop a provincial action plan afterconsultations.

"It's not only Laval. We're talking about young girls [across] the province," she said.

Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux saidthe situation inLaval is part of a bigger problem that needs to be looked at.

Coiteux insisted theLaval group home is "safe" but that one runaway case is "one case too many."

"The problem we face is a very complex one," he said.

On Monday, theParti Qubcois calledon the Liberalgovernment to restore funding to the province's youth centres.

PQ MNA Jean-Franois Lise saidthe province cut $20 million since coming to power.

He also wants the government to release a report commissioned by the PQ in 2013 looking into sexual exploitation of youth.