François Legault praised the courage of the mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier, for having denounced the former member of the PQ Harold LeBel who sexually assaulted her in Rimouski in 2017.
• Read also: Sexual assault: the victim of Harold LeBel is the mayor of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier
• Read also: “I’m proud to have been there” –Catherine Fournier
“I salute the courage of Catherine Fournier. A great example of determination. You can be proud. It is important that the victims know that they can denounce, ”wrote the Prime Minister, in a message published on social networks Tuesday morning.
After the court order that protected her identity was lifted at her request Tuesday morning, Catherine Fournier revealed that she was the victim of Harold LeBel, who was convicted of sexual assault last November.
The lifting of this order will make it possible to broadcast a documentary from our Bureau of Investigation which followed it throughout the legal process.
Wave of solidarity
In the corridors of the National Assembly, the words of solidarity towards Catherine Fournier fused Tuesday.
Several elected officials have stressed the importance of the testimony of the former MP for Marie-Victorin, which could well encourage victims of sexual assault to come out of the shadows and denounce their attacker.
- Listen to TVA Nouvelles Rimouski journalist Katia Laflamme covering this case via QUB-radio:
“The gesture she made is important for us women […]. Every time a woman stands up and has a positive result, it’s good for all women, ”said Québec solidaire spokesperson Manon Massé shortly before the question period.
The Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Martine Biron, said she was “reassured” by the conduct of Catherine Fournier, because it is, according to her, a sign that “women are beginning to speak out and denounce”. “And that leads us women to take our power more and more into our own hands,” she added.
“It is a very clear message to the various victims in Quebec that it is important to denounce,” added the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, noting in passing that the decision of the mayor of Longueuil to leave the shadow “does useful work” and “sets a pattern for many people”.
Earlier in the day, the interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Marc Tanguay, had also described Ms. Fournier’s testimony as “important”. “She went through the system,” he said, saying he looks forward to hearing the constructive criticism she will put forward in the coming days.
On Twitter, the leader of the Parti Québécois, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, noted that “Catherine Fournier’s process was undoubtedly difficult and demanding”, also welcoming her courage to have taken steps before the courts.
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what they said
- “I imagine the hell she went through, and I’m with her.” – Bernard Drainville, Minister of Education
- “I hope that everyone will listen to what this woman has to tell us about what needs to change in Quebec so that victims of sexual violence feel that they have plenty of room to denounce and so that the ensuing process respects their rights, respects their wishes” – Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, spokesperson for Québec solidaire
- “I have worked hard to build victims’ confidence in the justice system, and while Catherine’s story can help reassure some victims and convince them, those who naturally want it […], to file a complaint, well I think it’s a very good thing that she made that outing.” – Sonia Lebel, President of the Treasury Board
- “I think Ms. Fournier has a lot of courage today to go public with the fact that she was assaulted herself, and in the circumstances I think she wants to set an example, she wants to reassure women too, that they can also testify […] and complain.” François Bonnardel, Minister of Public Security
“Thank you for giving a voice to victims of sexual assault. I am certain that your testimony will bring hope and courage so that other women and men in turn speak out” – Andrée Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs - “I encourage all women victims of aggression or abuse to do like her. No matter the context, it’s zero tolerance. It is by denouncing that we will get there.” – Brigitte Garceau, Liberal MP