Mayor Valérie Plante announced on June 13, 2026 that the City of Montreal will accelerate the deployment of body‑camera equipment for the Montreal Police Service (SPVM). The decision follows recent allegations that police officers engaged in racist conduct, which have intensified public calls for greater accountability and transparency within the force.
In her statement, the mayor said the trust between the community and the police has been broken and that the city must act quickly to restore confidence. She pledged to provide answers to the concerns raised and to ensure that the body‑camera program moves forward more rapidly than originally planned.
The SPVM has been under increasing scrutiny as accusations of racial bias have surfaced, prompting city officials to explore reforms aimed at improving oversight. Body‑cameras are seen as a tool that could offer objective evidence of police‑public interactions and help address complaints of discriminatory behavior.
While specific timelines for the rollout were not disclosed, the mayor emphasized that the city will allocate the necessary resources to expedite the process. She also indicated that the administration will work closely with police leadership to integrate the technology into daily operations and to develop clear policies governing its use.
The move comes amid a broader conversation in Montreal about policing practices and the need for systemic changes to prevent future incidents of bias. City officials have indicated that the accelerated body‑camera initiative is part of a larger effort to enhance oversight, though details of additional reforms were not provided at the time of the announcement.
Community groups and advocacy organizations have welcomed the mayor’s commitment, viewing the faster implementation of body‑cameras as a step toward greater transparency. The city’s next steps will involve finalizing procurement, training officers, and establishing protocols to ensure the footage is managed responsibly and made available when appropriate.
The mayor’s announcement signals a shift in municipal priorities, with the acceleration of body‑camera deployment positioned as a concrete response to the public’s demand for accountability after the recent racism allegations against the SPVM.