Delisle's career took a major setback when he was accused by his own brother of having committed frauds when serving as a clerk of the Crown.

At the time of his death in 1880, Delisle was rumoured to be in line for an appointment to the Senate of Canada by the Conservative government of Sir John A. Macdonald, who was returned to office in 1878.

In 1833, he married Marie-Angélique, daughter of Austin Cuvillier, a well-established Montreal merchant and member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.

His opponent in Montreal County was James Leslie, who had extensive political experience from his time in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada.

[1][2] During his time in the Assembly, Delisle was a consistent supporter of the Governor, and a member of the informal "British Tory" group from Canada East.

He gave large sums to election campaigns, and was a close friend and respected advisor of George-Étienne Cartier, who became the leader of the Bleus and a Father of Confederation.

[10] Delisle also served as director and later president for the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad, until it combined with the Grand Trunk Railway.

He was also a director of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Steamship Company, which involved business travel to the West Indies and South America.

The provincial government of the day, the Sandfield Macdonald-Sicotte ministry, appointed a commission of inquiry, which turned into a heavily partisan matter.

Delisle maintained that the whole thing was the result of the machinations of Joseph Doutre, a Montreal lawyer who was a strong supporter of the Liberals and Parti rouge.

It was rumoured that he was in line for appointment to the Senate of Canada by the Conservative government of Sir John A. Macdonald, who had been returned to power in the 1878 election.