Montreal city council to debate bylaw banning insults against municipal employees

Montreal city council adopted a bylaw on November 7, 2023, banning people from insulting police officers and other municipal employees. Residents who insult city staff can face fines between $300 and $1,000 for a first offense, with subsequent offenses resulting in higher fines up to $2,000. The debate over the bylaw lasted over half an hour, with 35 councilors voting in favor and 25 against it. Other municipalities in Quebec, including Quebec City, Laval, Longueuil, and Sherbrooke, already have similar bylaws in place, which have resulted in thousands of fines issued over the past six years. However, lawyers and civil rights groups are concerned that such regulations could potentially infringe upon constitutional freedom of expression rights.