France refuses extradition of priest accused of sexual assault in Nunavut

Content of the article

The federal government says France has refused a request to extradite a priest accused of crimes against children in Nunavut.

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada requested the extradition of Johannes Rivoire, who was in Canada from the early 1960s until 1993.

Content of the article

Rivoire is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, issued in February, on a charge of sexual assault stemming from a complaint received last year.

He had previously avoided trial over multiple allegations of sexual abuse related to his time as a priest in Nunavut.

A group representing the Inuit of Nunavut traveled to France last month to seek their extradition.

Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said in a tweet that it is heartbreaking to see « this grave injustice continue. »