Charges Announced

An 87-year-old former music teacher in Saskatoon has been charged in connection with alleged sexual assaults dating back to the 1980s. Saskatoon Police Service confirmed the charges on August 20, following an investigation by the sex crime unit.

Details of Allegations

The accused, Raymond Eldon McHargue, is facing charges of gross indecency, sexual interference involving a person under 14, and sexual assault. Police allege the offences occurred between 1984 and 1988 and involved at least one boy who was a student.

Teaching Background

McHargue moved to Saskatoon in 1977 and began teaching piano and organ lessons both at a local music store and from his home on Churchill Drive. He continued teaching until 2020, potentially interacting with hundreds of students over four decades.

No Statute of Limitations

Under Canadian law, sexual assault allegations are not bound by a statute of limitations. This allows police to investigate and Crown prosecutors to pursue charges regardless of the time elapsed since the alleged offences.

Police Appeal to Community

Investigators believe there may be additional victims in the community. The Saskatoon Police Service is urging anyone with information or who may have been affected to contact their non-emergency line at 306-975-8300.

Court Proceedings

McHargue is scheduled to make his first appearance at Saskatoon Provincial Court on September 11. Police say the investigation remains ongoing.

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Court Ruling in Ottawa

An Ontario court has found Major Robert Baker, deputy commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, guilty of sexual offences against a minor. The judgment was delivered Friday, marking a significant development in the case that began with charges laid last year.

Charges and Timeline

Baker was charged in 2023 by Ontario Provincial Police with sexual assault, sexual interference, and sexual exploitation. The charges related to repeated incidents involving the same victim between 2019 and 2023.

Testimony and Evidence

During trial proceedings, the defence disputed all allegations and argued that the victim’s testimony lacked consistency. The Crown, however, maintained that the testimony was compelling and credible. The presiding judge accepted the victim’s account without reservation, convicting Baker of sexual interference and sexual exploitation.

Role in the Military

At the time of the charges, Baker served as part-time deputy commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders, a historic Canadian Armed Forces regiment tasked with training light infantry soldiers for domestic and international deployments.

Defence Department Response

The Department of National Defence has previously said it could impose administrative or disciplinary measures depending on the trial’s outcome, including the possibility of Baker’s release from service. Following Friday’s ruling, the department has not issued an updated statement on his status.

What Comes Next

While Baker awaits sentencing, no date has yet been set. The case continues to raise serious questions about accountability and oversight within Canada’s military institutions.

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Survivors Challenge Ontario’s Justice Limits

In a growing call for change, survivors of sexual violence in Ontario are demanding the provincial government eliminate a policy that prevents Crown prosecutors from referring sexual assault cases to community justice programs, also known as restorative justice.

A Healing Alternative Shut Out by Policy

Marlee Liss, a Toronto woman and survivor of sexual assault, described how restorative justice transformed her experience after enduring years in a criminal legal process she found traumatizing. In 2019, her case was diverted outside the courtroom, allowing her to hear an apology directly from her alleged assailant after months of therapy. That moment, she said, marked the beginning of true healing.

But Liss’s case was an exception. Ontario policy currently bars prosecutors from offering such a path for sexual offences. Despite the benefits Liss experienced, the Crown attorney who approved her case for diversion was later disciplined.

Advocacy for Change Gathers Momentum

Survivors 4 Justice Reform, a global advocacy group founded by Liss, has written an open letter to Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, urging the policy’s removal. Co-signed by 50 organizations and individuals working in sexual assault advocacy, the letter argues the province’s stance perpetuates a rigid, harmful approach.

“Denying survivors this option perpetuates a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to meet the complex realities of sexual violence,” the letter states.

Government Remains Silent on Reforms

As of now, the Ministry of the Attorney General has not responded directly to the letter. When contacted, ministry spokesperson Charlotte Carron declined to discuss the policy or potential reforms, citing the need to first review the open letter.

The current Crown Prosecution Manual permits restorative justice only when the accused accepts responsibility and commits to meaningful amends. Yet for sexual assault, these cases remain categorically off-limits within the court system.

Missed Opportunities and Emotional Toll

For many, restorative justice remains an unknown or inaccessible option. Survivors like Emily Quint, whose case was stayed in 2023 due to court delays, say they might have chosen that path if they had known it existed. Quint says the court experience retraumatized her. “I wanted healing for myself and for him — not just punishment,” she said.

According to Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, 59 sexual assault cases were stayed in 2023 alone due to court delays, leaving survivors like Quint without justice or closure.

Structural Barriers and Lack of Access

Legal advocates say the lack of referral options directly contributes to the scarcity of restorative justice services across Ontario. Deepa Mattoo, director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, supports expanding choices for survivors but notes many clinics don’t refer to restorative programs due to their limited availability.

Rosel Kim, a senior staff lawyer at the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), agrees that policy reform must come with funding. “If you just lift the moratorium but don’t provide options, that’s not meaningful either,” she said.

A Call for Survivor-Centered Justice

As pressure builds, advocates say Ontario must rethink its approach to justice — one that centers the voices, boundaries, and healing of survivors. Restorative justice, they argue, is not about excusing harm, but about offering a pathway to accountability and recovery that the legal system often fails to provide.

“Perpetrators are not on the hook right now,” Liss said. “Let’s build a system that finally listens to survivors.”

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