Quebec Archdiocese approves $31.5 million settlement for historic abuse claims
A Quebec Superior Court judge authorized a $31.5 million class-action settlement for victims alleging sexual abuse by Archdiocese staff dating back to 1940.
In a landmark decision, a Quebec Superior Court judge approved a $31.5 million settlement to resolve a class-action suit alleging sexual abuse by members of the Archdiocese of Quebec since 1940. Representative plaintiffs Gaétan Bégin and Pierre Bolduc recounted assaults by parish priests when they were 14 and 12 years old, respectively, during a public hearing in July. The agreement, supported by roughly 200 claimants, will be financed by the Archdiocese, the Séminaire de Québec, Collège François-de-Laval and the Mutual Insurance of Quebec Fabriques, with the Dufresne Wee law firm overseeing the process.
Retired judges will determine each victim’s compensation, and the diocese will cover administrative costs and issue a formal apology. Lawyers highlighted the settlement as one of the largest against a Quebec diocese, aiming to aid survivors in their path toward healing.
Why it matters
The settlement provides financial redress and acknowledgment for decades-old abuse, setting a precedent for institutional accountability in Canada.
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