Montreal police get nearly 500 calls about sexual harassment

MONTREAL — Montreal police received 463 calls in less than three weeks on a sexual harassment phone line set up in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, said a statement yesterday.

Out of these, 98 have resulted in police opening criminal investigations for sexual assaults, the police service said.

"The recent movement denouncing sexual assault and, more broadly, sexual misconduct has taken a huge step forward," it said.

The temporary dedicated phone line has now been shut down.

Following numerous testimonies online and in the media about Hollywood producer Weinstein, Canadian producer Gilbert Rozon and others, accusing them of sexual misconduct, Montreal's police chief Philippe Pichet had urged victims to come forward, saying in a Twitter message: "We are listening."

Around 100 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct since a New York Times expose was published in early October. The accusations range from harassment to rape. Weinstein denies any non-consensual relations.

Similar allegations rocked Quebec's entertainment industry, embroiling Rozon, who was forced to quit the "Just for Laughs" comedy festival he founded, and Quebec television personality Eric Salvail.

Among Rozon's accusers was television host and producer Julie Snyder.