Montreal City Council will hold a vote during the week of September 20‑26, 2026 on a proposed bylaw that would permit fines for individuals who insult police officers and other municipal employees.
The draft legislation seeks to create a legal mechanism to prohibit and penalize verbal insults directed at police officers and municipal staff while they are performing their duties. It would empower the city to issue monetary penalties to persons whose comments are deemed insulting under the bylaw.
Council members introduced the measure amid ongoing discussions within the city about how to protect public officials from verbal abuse. The proposal reflects a broader municipal effort to address concerns raised by police and municipal workers who report frequent instances of disrespectful language.
If adopted, the bylaw would add a new category of offenses to the municipal code. The specific fine amounts and enforcement procedures will be defined in accompanying regulations, according to council documentation.
The vote will take place during regular council sessions scheduled for the specified week. Councilors will have the opportunity to debate the merits of the measure before casting their votes. The outcome will determine whether Montreal adopts the new penalty framework.
The initiative arrives as part of a series of policy considerations aimed at safeguarding municipal employees from verbal hostility, a topic that has been raised repeatedly in recent council meetings and public forums.