The justice system for the Cree and Inuit in the northern Quebec community of Whapmagoostui — located on the banks of the Hudson Bay near the Grande Rivière de la Baleine — will face even greater delays after the village’s courthouse went up in flames this week, leaving behind only charred remains standing in the ice and snow.
Firefighters fought to contain the flames that erupted Tuesday night, and the cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage of the investigation, said Patrice Abel, an investigator with the Nunavik police force.
“When the fire started, there were two detainees with three guards from Quebec correctional