MONTREAL — The recently unsealed “Epstein Files,” consisting of millions of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, have revealed extensive and surprising links to Quebec, with over a thousand references to Montreal alone. The documents detail a web of connections involving prominent local figures and international business leaders, ranging from early-stage tech investments to high-stakes real estate deals and logistics partnerships.
One of the most notable local names mentioned is Austin Hill, a veteran Montreal technology entrepreneur and co-founder of the blockchain firm Blockstream. The records show that Hill met with Jeffrey Epstein several times between 2014 and 2018, including a visit to Epstein’s private island, Little St. James. Correspondence suggests that Epstein invested roughly $50,000 in Hill’s startup during its seed round, and the two discussed a specialized project to create a “Sharia-compliant” cryptocurrency for Muslim clients. Hill has since expressed deep regret over the association, stating he was unaware of the extent of Epstein’s crimes and unequivocally condemns his actions.
The files also shed light on the social circle of Guy Laliberté, the billionaire founder of Cirque du Soleil. Email exchanges from 2018 show that Laliberté attempted to sell two of his luxury villas in Ibiza to Epstein. While the emails featured friendly language, including addressing Epstein as a “dear friend,” a spokesperson for Laliberté clarified that the relationship was strictly professional. They explained that the “dear friend” greeting was part of a standardized marketing email sent to thousands of potential high-net-worth buyers and that Laliberté had no personal relationship with the disgraced financier.
The controversy has also triggered a major corporate shake-up involving Quebec’s pension giant, CDPQ. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the long-time head of Dubai-based logistics firm DP World, resigned in February 2026 following the leak of explicit email exchanges with Epstein. The documents reveal that shortly after signing a $5 billion investment deal with CDPQ in Montreal in 2016, bin Sulayem reportedly flew directly to Epstein’s private island. Following these revelations, CDPQ announced it would pause all new capital deployment with DP World, demanding full transparency and corrective action from the company’s new leadership.
