One of André Boisclair’s sexual assault victims sues for $270,000

One of the victims of former Parti Québécois (PQ) leader André Boisclair is taking him back to court, claiming $270,000 for damages suffered as a result of a sexual assault.

In a motion filed with the Superior Court on Wednesday, the plaintiff, who was 21 years old at the time of the events in January 2014, claims that the sexual and physical assault caused serious consequences for him, including a loss of confidence, depressive episodes and suicidal thoughts.

He also cites “a considerable impact on his sex life” and social anxiety “which provokes episodes of panic.” He says he has “developed a drug and alcohol consumption problem.”

‘Descent into hell’

“Had it not been for the sexual and physical assaults orchestrated and committed by the defendant against the plaintiff, the latter would not have experienced the descent into hell of the last few years and all the resulting damages,” reads the lawsuit.

The claim describes the sexual assault and other abuse the plaintiff was subjected to despite his explicit and repeated refusal during events involving two other people. One of these two other people allegedly raped him while Boisclair and another person held him back.

Guilty plea

Boisclair pleaded guilty in June 2022 to two charges of sexual assault on two young men during two separate incidents. He was then sentenced to two years less a day in prison before being granted parole after serving one-third of his sentence in March 2023.

He had failed in a first attempt to obtain provisional release at one-sixth of his sentence, in November 2022, when the Parole Board deemed that he presented an “unacceptable risk” of reoffending, citing in particular his refusal to undergo therapy and his arrogant attitude. An application for review of this decision failed to overturn it.

According to lawsuit, the victim had given him formal notice to compensate him last October, but Boisclair had not followed up on this request.

The plaintiff is now seeking $200,000 in material damages, $20,000 in monetary damages for the therapies he has been undergoing continuously for the past three years and $50,000 in punitive damages.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews