#Canada #Quebec – The Archdiocese of Quebec, along with two educational institutions and an insurer, agreed to pay $31.5 million to resolve claims from approximately 150 people who alleged they were sexually assaulted by diocesan clergy or pastoral staff since 1940.
The parties signed the agreement in principle on June 18, 2026. It settled a collective action authorized by the Superior Court in May 2022. The settlement covered the Archdiocese of Quebec, the Seminary of Quebec, Collège François-de-Laval (formerly the Petit Séminaire de Québec), and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Factories.
Under the terms, the four entities were required to remit the full amount to the victims’ legal firm, Dufresne Wee Avocats, within 45 days of court approval. A hearing for final approval was scheduled for July 30, 2026, at the Quebec courthouse.
Retired judges Danielle Grenier and Robert Pidgeon served as independent adjudicators. They reviewed claimant files, addressed disputes, and met in person or via videoconference with at least 10% of the claimants. Each adjudicator evaluated claims individually on the balance of probabilities, determining compensation based on the nature, number, duration of the alleged assaults, and the extent of harm suffered. Their decisions were final and binding.
In a notable provision, Auxiliary Bishop Jean Tailleur, who signed the agreement on behalf of the archdiocese, was set to issue formal letters of apology to accepted claimants. The letters acknowledged that the financial compensation could not erase the suffering endured.
This settlement marked the largest payout by any Quebec diocese in a collective abuse action. For comparison, the Archdiocese of Montreal committed nearly $15 million in 2023 for 108 victims. With this agreement, eight of Quebec’s 18 Latin-rite dioceses had now resolved similar claims, either fully or partially, committing a combined total of approximately $100 million.
The process included special accommodations for the rare cases where the alleged perpetrator was still alive, allowing those individuals to meet with adjudicators. The full adjudication was expected to take up to 18 months.
Image: Cathedral Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec, the seat of the Archbishop of Quebec.
