Opposition party the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) is alleging there are more complaints against MNA Gerry Sklavounos, after a young woman accused him of sexual assault.
No formal charges have been laid.
READ MORE: Quebec Liberal MNA Gerry Sklavounos leaves caucus after ‘violent’ sexual assault allegations
The father of two stepped down from the Liberal caucus late Thursday afternoon a day after Alice Paquet said she was the victim of a “violent” sexual assault by a member of the National Assembly in 2014 while she was working as a hostess at a Quebec City restaurant.
“My heart stopped when she said it was an MNA and that really scared me,” said Roy.
CAQ MNA Nathalie Roy said she and her colleagues have started hearing several stories of unsolicited comments, gestures and texts to young female employees, interns and pages.
READ MORE: Laval University student alleges Liberal MNA sexually assaulted her
She is encouraging other possible victims to come forward.
“I’m telling all the women this morning that they have a resource,” she said.
“They are protected if they decide to say that’s unacceptable — somebody did that, said that, touched me.”
WATCH BELOW: MNA Gerry Sklavounos accused of sexual assault
“It’s a shadow over us and for the population that are looking at us and I think it’s going to be impossible for him to work.”
She revealed a complaint was filed with the government’s whip by a Parti Quebecois government employee against Sklavounos for behaviour between 2012 and 2014.
“I think that we have to be responsible. Everybody has to be responsible,” said Roy.
“Maybe we have to remind some colleagues that there’s some things you don’t do and you don’t say.”
The Liberal whip refused to confirm to Global News if this was true.
A ‘violent’ assault
Paquet made the claim at a vigil for victims of sexual assault at Laval University Wednesday night, taking the microphone to announce publicly she had been sexually assaulted.
Rosalie Genest, a friend of the student, told a Quebec City radio station that the assault was “violent” and that she was hospitalized the next day and received stitches.
The student said she reported the assault to police with a rape kit, but she was told this kind of accusation would ruin his career.
READ MORE: Vigil held in Quebec City over alleged cases of sexual assault
She said she was told no one would believe her “because he has a seat in the National Assembly, because he is an important man.”
Quebec City police wouldn’t comment on whether this was true or not.
Police said they opened an investigation in March 2016, but are waiting for the victim to corroborate details of the assault.
The 41-year-old backbencher has been an MNA since 2007 in the Montreal-area district of Laurier-Dorion.
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