QUéBEC CITY (CANADA)
CBC Lite [Ottawa, ON, Canada]
July 30, 2026
By Annabelle Olivier
Alleged sexual abuse victims of Archdiocese of Quebec closer to historic $31.5M settlement
Lawsuit covers people who say they were sexually abused by staff dating back to 1940
A Quebec Superior Court judge will decide whether a historic $31.5-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec is approved.
The deal could end years of legal action for claimants alleging they were sexually assaulted by members of the Archdiocese since 1940.
At the Quebec courthouse on Thursday, Justice Danye Daigle heard emotional testimony from a dozen victims whose identities are under a publication ban. They shared how the alleged events had shaped their lives.
Gaétan Bégin, who has said he was sexually abused in the 1950s, is one of the plaintiffs representing 200 people who joined the class action.
Outside the courtroom, Bégin told CBC, it was a historic day.
“I’m 86 now, but the young boy who was robbed at 13 is still with me,” he said. “To see that we have a justice system that works and that we have professionals to represent us — we have legal professionals to represent us — I’m at a loss for words.”
Bégin said the worst isn’t so much what happened to him, but the suffering he says he unwittingly inflicted on his family.
“The collateral damage is indescribable,” he said.
Money is ‘proof that something was broken’
After years of legal procedures, lawyers reached a $31.5-million settlement in June, which is now in the hands of the judge.
“So this settlement is one of the biggest against a diocese in Quebec and we hope that the judge will render a judgment according this settlement,” said Justin Wee, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs.
Co-reprensentative and plaintif Pierre Bolduc says the alleged acts are unforgivable.
“I’ve accepted the offer because I’ve had enough,” he said. “It’s extremely inhumane, we’re talking about children here.”
Bégin, for his part, said he felt the proceedings were headed toward a happy ending.
And while $31.5 million may be a historic amount of money, Bégin said it’s more about the message the settlement sends.
“The amount of the claim is proof that something was broken and that they’re going to fix it,” he said.
Monsignor Jean Tailleur, speaking for the Archdiocese, said he believes it is a good settlement.
“It avoids a trail, it saves people from having to testify, and we truly believe in this agreement,” he said.
If approved by the judge, other victims will have 90 days to submit a claim outlining the alleged abuse and its impact on their lives.
The compensation fund will be financed by the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval — formerly known as the Petit Séminaire de Québec — and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques.
In addition to the $31.5-million compensation fund, the defendants have agreed to cover the costs associated with administering the claims process, including adjudicators’ fees and expenses such as obtaining medical records and expert opinions when necessary.
The amount each person receives will be determined later by two retired judges appointed to assess the claims. Victims will also receive a written apology form the Archdiocese of Quebec.
Justice Daigle will now deliberate on the agreement, saying the matter is urgent and must be settled as quickly as possible.
If you’re in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.
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