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MONTREAL — The death of an unhoused Innu man whose body was found inside a portable toilet in Montreal highlights the need for additional efforts to combat homelessness, a Quebec coroner said Thursday.
Raphaël “Napa” André died on Jan. 17, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His body was found steps away from the Open Door shelter in Montreal that was closed by public health officials because of plumbing problems and a COVID-19 outbreak.
Quebec had also imposed a nighttime curfew to curb the spread of the virus.
Coroner Stéphanie Gamache’s report includes 23 recommendations, such as better communication between actors in the health network and culturally-sensitive accommodations for Indigenous peoples.
“The problem of homelessness is complex and this public inquiry cannot, unfortunately, provide all the answers,” Gamache wrote.
“However, we are fortunate to live in a society that is making efforts to reduce social inequalities.”
Her report also recommends turning seasonal emergency shelters into permanent year-round services and ensuring emergency health plans better account for the needs of homeless people.
André’s death was attributed to hypothermia in the context of severe alcohol intoxication.
Gamache is scheduled to hold a news conference in Montreal later Thursday.
The coroner’s inquest on André’s death was held in May and June 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025.
Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
