Article content

MONTREAL – When child-protection workers arrived Monday to check on children in a cult-like Jewish community in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Que., the streets were deserted and nobody answered the doors.

Neighbours informed them that three buses had arrived in the middle of the night. With some families facing court dates this week under Quebec’s Youth Protection Act, almost the entire community — including all of the 120 children — had abruptly decamped for Chatham, Ont.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Secretive sect, referred to as the ‘Jewish Taliban,’ flees Quebec for Ontario amid child neglect investigation Back to video

“For sure we are worried by the fact that they fled Quebec to go to Ontario,” Denis Baraby, director of youth protection for the Laurentians region, said Friday. His workers have been actively involved in the community since August, trying to help children suffering from poor hygiene, inadequate housing and unsatisfactory schooling.

“We gathered evidence that there was important child neglect within the community and there was also psychological violence made toward the children in many ways,” Mr. Baraby said. “The basic needs of the children were not necessarily well provided for.”