Montreal City Council approved a new bylaw on Thursday, September 22, 2026, that makes it illegal to direct insults at municipal employees. The measure passed with 35 votes in favour and 25 against after a debate that lasted just over thirty minutes.
Council members said the rule is intended to protect city staff from verbal abuse while they perform their duties. The official opposition voiced concerns about the wording of the bylaw but ultimately voted against it. No further amendments were introduced during the brief discussion.
The bylaw, which now stands as municipal policy, outlines that any person who publicly insults a municipal worker may be subject to penalties set by the city. Details of the enforcement mechanism were not disclosed in the council session, and the council did not provide a timeline for when the rule would take effect.
The vote marks the council’s first formal step toward regulating language used toward city employees. The decision follows a series of complaints from staff who reported feeling threatened or harassed during interactions with the public. By adopting the bylaw, the council aims to create a clearer standard for acceptable conduct toward municipal workers.