Radio Canada Exposes Exploitation Inside Montreal Escort Agencies

Women working in Montreal's luxury escort industry have described violence, sexual coercion and deceptive recruitment practices in a Radio Canada investigation broadcast on October 8, 2026. The documentary, produced by journalist Romain Schue and director Pier-Luc Latulippe for the program Enquete, examines how escort agencies recruit young women, manage their work and expose them to dangerous clients, including allegations against a 57-year-old ophthalmic surgeon from Westmount.

The investigation, titled Dans l'ombre des agences d'escortes, follows an undercover inquiry into Montreal's high-end escort networks. According to Radio Canada, approximately 20 women spoke about their experiences in the industry, including former escort Clementine, who described mistreatment she experienced when she was 19.

The physician, who reportedly maintained a private medical practice in downtown Montreal, was identified as both a client and a recruiter associated with the XO escort agency. Montreal police dismantled the agency the previous winter following an investigation lasting nearly two years, according to La Presse.

Several former escorts accused the physician of manipulation and pressuring women to accept sexual practices beyond their established boundaries. The allegations also included accounts of strangulation during sexual encounters and claims that he targeted inexperienced young women with promises of an appealing lifestyle. The physician denied the allegations when confronted by Radio Canada and directed the journalist to his lawyer.

Clementine described the physician's behavior during her account of their interactions.

"He had disconnected tendencies. He was obsessed with things that weren't normal," said Clementine, a former escort previously featured in journalist Marie-Eve Tremblay's podcast Pire idee de ma vie: sugar baby.

Other women interviewed by Radio Canada described similar recruitment tactics and pressure to comply with clients' sexual demands. One former escort characterized the physician's approach to recruiting women.

"He chooses girls and promises them a fairy tale. He thinks he's a modern-day Jesus," said a former escort interviewed by the program.

Another woman described the pressure she experienced after entering the industry.

"He tried to convince me to push certain sexual boundaries. I was afraid that if I refused, I would be fired," said another former escort.

The investigation also examined the physician's involvement in establishing an escort agency catering to couples interested in threesomes. According to a conversation recorded without his knowledge by a woman he had seen, he later described the emotional demands of managing women working in the industry.

He reportedly said he no longer wanted to manage what he called "emotional garbage." In the same recorded conversation, he described the burden of dealing with numerous workers.

"The emotional baggage of 24 women is like someone shooting me in the head," the physician said in the recorded conversation cited by La Presse.

Beyond the allegations against the doctor, the documentary investigates the wider business model of luxury escort agencies, which have increasingly used online platforms to advertise workers. Listings may include physical measurements, tattoos and information about cosmetic implants, presenting women to potential clients through detailed profiles.

Radio Canada's undercover collaborator posed as a young woman seeking to join an agency identified in the reporting as Euphoria. The inquiry documented how recruiters attempt to reassure prospective workers about safety while explaining the agency's practices and expected working arrangements.

According to the investigation, a girlfriend-experience appointment could cost $280 per hour, with $80 going to the agency and $200 retained by the worker. The reported arrangement included specific sexual services, while clients could negotiate separately for other practices. Women were expected to receive at least three clients daily in agency-provided condominiums.

Journalist Romain Schue said the investigation aimed to understand the experiences of women inside the agencies and determine whether exploitation occurred. He also described the broader question driving the reporting.

"How far are people willing to go to satisfy their desires?" said Romain Schue, a journalist with Enquete.

Schue explained that the team sought firsthand accounts from women working within the agencies rather than relying solely on the businesses' descriptions of their operations.

"We wanted to know what the women inside really thought, what happened inside, and whether there was exploitation," Schue said in an interview broadcast by 985 FM.

The documentary also raises concerns about Montreal's ability to address sexual exploitation. According to the report published by CTVM, Montreal police acknowledged that limited resources prevent the force from tackling the entire problem, leaving investigators to focus on the most serious cases.

The investigation notes that purchasing sexual services and pimping remain punishable under Canadian law. The documentary aired on ICI Tele and ICI TOU.TV on October 8, 2026, with another scheduled broadcast on ICI RDI on October 11 at 6:30 p.m.