Former Bloc Québécois MP arrested on sexual assault charges

Bloc Québécois candidate Pascal-Pierre Paillé (left) and his leader Gilles Duceppe (right) are heckled by the incumbent Conservative MP for Louis-Hébert, Luc Harvey (center), during a visit to a farmers’ market on Sunday, October 12, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Former Bloc Québécois MP Pascal-Pierre Paillé was apprehended by Quebec City police on Tuesday morning “in connection with cases of sexual assault, sexual contact with minors, and sexual assault in a position of authority,” the Quebec City police force stated in a news release.

The acts he is accused of allegedly took place in August 2024 and from January to June 2006.

Pascal-Pierre Paillé, 47, served as member of parliament for the riding of Louis-Hébert from 2008 to 2011, the year he was swept away by the “orange wave,” in which the New Democratic Party, then led by Jack Layton, won 59 of Quebec’s 75 seats in the House of Commons.

He was held in custody following his arrest until his court appearance, which was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

- By Pierre Saint-Arnaud

- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 17, 2026.