Montreal City Council debates bylaw to fine insults against municipal staff

The Montreal City Council is set to debate a proposed bylaw that would penalize citizens for insulting, harassing, or intimidating municipal employees, including police officers. If passed, first-time offenders could face fines ranging from $300 to $1,000, with subsequent offenses potentially reaching $2,000. The administration cited a 250 percent increase in reported incidents of aggression and threats toward staff between 2019 and 2025 as a primary driver for the legislation.

The proposal follows public outcry after a video of a man hurling misogynistic insults at an officer went viral. While the police union has supported the measure for years, the bylaw has faced significant criticism from civil rights organizations. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Ligue des droits et libertés argue that the regulation could infringe upon constitutional freedom of expression. Critics also expressed concerns that the lack of a clear definition for what constitutes an “insult” could exacerbate power imbalances between law enforcement and the public, potentially impacting vulnerable populations such as those experiencing homelessness or racial profiling.