Quebec probes MNA sex allegation

QUEBEC• Premier Philippe Couillard has launched an internal investigation into allegations one of his MNAs sexually assaulted a woman in a Quebec City hotel room in 2014.

The woman in question, Alice Paquet, made the allegations Wednesday evening during a rally at Université Laval to support victims of sexual assault.

“I want to denounce an assault,” Paquet told the crowd. “It’s not that I haven’ t denounced it in the past, but they wanted to protect the assaulter because he has a seat at the National Assembly, because he’s an important man, because his career is important, because his career is more important than the assault. ... When I wanted to denounce all of that, I was told, ‘They won’t believe you.’

“I went to police ... and nothing happened,” she said.

Paquet told the Montreal Gazette on Thursday that she is waiting to talk to a lawyer before making additional comments.

Her friend, Rosalie Genest, took to the airwaves to say the assault — which allegedly occurred in the MNA’s hotel room — had been “violent” and Paquet had needed stitches.

Genest said Paquet worked in a Quebec City restaurant where the MNA was a regular client. She was told by her boss to treat him well, and that he was a “womanizer.”

According to Genest, the MNA invited Paquet for a drink after his meal to “talk politics.”

“I’m shocked,” Couillard said. “I have a daughter and a granddaughter. To me, this is something personally important. ... Of course we will make substantial verifications. Both the whip of the government and a member of my staff will meet each of the members and ask them if they know this person or if they’ve met with police.

“Now this is a very delicate question. I’m not the police, I’m not a judge, I’m not even a lawyer, but I just want to tell Quebecers that to me this is significant and crucially important for our society.”

Couillard added women must “feel safe and be safe anywhere, at any time of the day.”

The allegations rocked the Liberals’ caucus meeting on Thursday, with nervous MNAs saying that if true, the actions of the unnamed MNA are “completely unacceptable.” Higher Education Minister Hélène David said she would find it intolerable to continue sitting with the MNA.

“No one is above the law,” said the minister responsible for the status of women, Lise Thériault.

Meanwhile, Quebec City police confirmed Thursday they are investigating the sexual assault allegations.

Paquet’s allegation that police officers discouraged her from speaking out “does not represent the values of the Quebec City police,” said police spokesperson Étienne Doyon.