Montreal City Council is scheduled to vote today on a proposed bylaw that would permit the city to fine individuals who insult police officers and other municipal employees while they are performing their duties. The measure, introduced by council members, seeks to create a legal mechanism for penalising verbal attacks directed at city workers, including members of the police force, during the course of their official responsibilities.
Under the draft bylaw, the city would be authorized to issue monetary penalties to anyone who publicly disparages a police officer or a municipal employee in a manner that is deemed an insult. The proposal does not specify the amount of the fines, but it outlines that the penalties would be applied when the insult occurs in the presence of the officer or employee while they are on duty. The council will review the language of the bylaw and decide whether to adopt it during the session convened for this purpose.
Council members are expected to discuss the scope of the legislation, its enforceability and its alignment with existing municipal regulations. The proposal has been placed on the agenda for the meeting taking place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, reflecting the council's intention to address concerns about respect for public servants. If approved, the bylaw would become part of Montreal's municipal code and could be enforced by city officials responsible for overseeing compliance.
The consideration of the bylaw comes amid ongoing conversations in the city about the relationship between residents and municipal workers. The council's decision will be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting and will determine whether the city moves forward with a new tool for addressing insults directed at police officers and other city staff.