Woman accusing ex-MP of assault files lawsuit

Physical and psychological injuries claimed

• A woman accusing former New Democrat MP Romeo Saganash of sexual assault has filed a civil suit, saying she never wanted prosecutors to divert his criminal charge to a restorative-justice program.

Carmen Roy alleges she was sexually assaulted a year ago, and now lives with “psychiatric, psychological, emotional and physical injuries.” In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, Roy publicly details the specifics of her allegations for the first time.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and no statement of defence has been filed. Saganash's lawyer declined to comment, but Ethan Pollock has previously said that his client is presumed innocent.

Winnipeg police arrested Saganash, who represented a northern Quebec riding for eight years, late last June and charged him with sexual assault over an incident that took place in Winnipeg on May 1, 2023. In October, officials diverted the case to the Manitoba Restorative Justice Centre.

Saganash is scheduled to be in court May 17 for an administrative appearance.

Roy is the executive assistant to Stephanie Scott, the head of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

In July 2022, the federal government appointed Saganash as a member of a group of residential-school survivors to work in tandem with a national advisory committee on missing children and unmarked burials.

Saganash's membership was suspended after Roy's allegations came to light.

The statement of claim alleges that on the day the events took place, the two attended a breakfast meeting at the Four Points Sheraton Winnipeg, at which Saganash arrived late and “smelled strongly of alcohol.”

Saganash stared at Roy, the statement says, before “sniffing her in a sexually provocative manner.”

“Mr. Saganash proceeded to grab Ms. Roy underneath her breasts on the left side of her upper torso,” the statement reads, at which point Roy's boss, Scott, told Saganash not to touch Roy.

“Saganash simply murmured something under his breath and chuckled,” the document alleges. Shortly after that, the statement alleges, Saganash “grabbed and touched Ms. Roy on her inner left thigh.” The document says Roy “was frozen in fear” and texted Scott, who switched seats with Roy.

Madeleine Basile, another residential-school survivor who serves on the advisory committee, sat beside Roy, according to the statement. It says she witnessed the events and said Saganash should not be present at the meeting. The statement of claim alleges that Saganash at one point told Basile, “I love you,” before Scott had him driven home.

On Aug. 15, the statement of claim says, Roy met with a prosecutor who characterized Saganash's offence as being on the low end of the spectrum, making him a likely candidate for the restorative justice program.

But Roy was never consulted, the statement of claim alleges, saying that prevented her from having an opportunity to provide a victim impact statement.

Manitoba Justice confirmed that “the Crown had discussions with the victim prior to the decision to divert the case” but did not address whether she had weighed in on the decision.

The statement of claim describes the incident as “sexual battery” that has caused psychological harm and a loss of income.