Montreal city council adopts bylaw banning insults against police, municipal employees

Montreal city council has adopted a bylaw to ban people from insulting police officers and other municipal employees.

The debate over the rule lasted over half an hour, with the Official Opposition saying the proposed bylaw was "half-baked." It was adopted with 35 voting in favour and 25 opposed.

"We are being asked to vote now and consult later," said Marie Plourde, leader of the Official Opposition.

Under the bylaw, residents who insult city staff would face fines between $300 and $1,000 for a first offence. Subsequent offences could result in fines up to $2,000.

Yves Francœur, head of the police brotherhood, has said his union's members have been pushing for such a bylaw for years. But lawyers and civil rights groups worry the bylaw could infringe on the constitutional right to freedom of expression.

Other municipalities in the province, including Quebec City, Laval, Longueuil and Sherbrooke, already have similar bylaws.

Police in Quebec municipalities issued thousands of fines for insulting officers

The Canadian Press reported in June that some of these municipalities have issued thousands of fines over the past six years.

"Giving the middle finger, it's not what will give you a ticket," Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said before the council meeting.

"Let's just be honest. There's bigger issues in terms of the attitude of some citizens."

The new Montreal bylaw would ban insults, harassment, threats, abuse and intimidation, as well as offensive and aggressive behaviour.

It also includes provisions saying city employees could refuse to provide services to someone who misbehaves. However, the bylaw doesn't define what could be construed as an insult.

City councillor Carla Beauvais heavily criticized the administration for not providing clear definitions. She also questioned the lack of public consultations.

"A threat can be proven. An offensive word is felt. And how a person feels can vary from one person to another. So where does the offence begin? Where does permissible anger end? The text doesn't say," said Beauvais.