Former politician André Boisclair will serve a sentence of two years less a day in prison for having sexually assaulted two men, at two different times.
Posted at 2:21 p.m.
“The offender’s actions are highly reprehensible. Attacking people in this way hurts the depths of their integrity and dignity. It is not surprising in the circumstances to have heard the two victims recount the consequences with which they still have to deal today. “, declared judge Pierre Labelle during the reading of the sentence.
The former leader of the Parti Québécois pleaded guilty last June to one count of sexual assault with the help of a third party on a first victim and another of sexual assault on a second victim. A conditional stay of proceedings was granted on a third charge of sexual assault with a weapon.
The Crown prosecutor, Mr.e Jérôme Laflamme, and defense counsel, Mr.e Michel Massicotte, made a joint suggestion for a sentence of two years less a day in prison. Judge Pierre Labelle endorsed this suggestion, which he described as “fair, proportionate and personalized”. He also imposed on André Boisclair a two-year probation and a ban on contact with the two victims.
André Boisclair, 56, was leader of the Parti Québécois from November 2005 to May 2007 and delegate general of Quebec in New York from November 2012 to September 2013.
Disturbing testimonies
During his appearance in January, the two victims of André Boisclair gave disturbing testimonies to the Court. Their identity is protected by a publication ban.
The first victim said she met André Boisclair on social media shortly before the sexual assault when she was in her twenties. In January 2014, Boisclair invited her to his home while other people were there. The young man agreed, but he warned that he did not want anal intercourse. Once at the ex-politician’s home, sexual gestures were made and consented to, but Boisclair suddenly ordered two men to grab and penetrate him. The victim didn’t want to and struggled. She was eventually released by the two men who were never identified.
The second victim, also in his twenties at the material time, met André Boisclair on a dating application. In November 2015, the pair met in person at the ex-politician’s home to chat and drink beer. At one point, Boisclair imposed non-consensual sexual gestures on his victim, including penetration with the fingers. The young man had to ask him three times to stop for André Boisclair to finally back down.
The two young men recounted the negative impact that his sexual assault had on their lives. The first victim notably recounted having suffered from a loss of confidence, panic attacks and depression, in particular.