Longueuil seeks to amend charter to have entire city cover costs of $10M François Lamarre settlement

Francois Lamarre, a retired Montreal police and former minor league hockey coach in Greenfield Park, Que., appears for his arraignment at the courthouse in Longueuil, Que., on December 19, 2019. CANADIAN PRESS/Pierre St-Arnaud

The City of Longueuil is hoping to amend its charter so that the costs associated with compensating victims of former hockey coach François Lamarre can be shared by the entire city — not just Greenfield Park residents.

Last December, a Superior Court judge authorized a $10.25-million class-action settlement against Lamarre, a former police officer who coached youth hockey for 30 years in the former town of Greenfield Park. The town is now part of the City of Longueuil after the merger in 2002.

He died seven months after being charged with several sexual assault offences involving four complainants. One of his victims, John Cormier, launched the class-action suit against Lamarre, naming his estate and the City of Longueuil as defendants.

Only about $8,000 of the settlement will come from Lamarre’s estate through the tax collection agency, while the rest of the multi-million dollar settlement will have to come from residents.

Coalition avenir Québec MNA Isabelle Poulet is sponsoring a private bill at the National Assembly. Bill 216 would amend Longueuil’s charter so that costs associated with the court case “are financed by revenues from the city’s entire territory.”

The private bill could be passed in the coming weeks.

Sylvain Joly, president of the Greenfield Park borough, supports the bill, saying it would be “unfair” for residents of his district to cover the costs alone.

“Can you imagine if that debt was assumed by the people of Greenfield Park? It will cost $84 during 20 years” added to their municipal taxes, he told CTV News. He said spreading the cost over the entire territory would cost $17 for each citizen over a five-year period instead.

Those figures are based on the maximum amount that can be awarded ($10.25 million) to victims. The exact amount will be known later this summer.

Compensation will depend on the level of abuse suffered, reaching a maximum of $600,000 per victim.

Victims have until June 17, 2025, to submit a claim, which can be done by visiting the Kugler Kandestin law firm’s website.

With files from CTV Montreal’s Olivia O’Malley