Montreal council to vote on bylaw penalizing insults toward city workers

This week, Montreal city council is set to debate a new bylaw aimed at curbing insults directed at municipal employees, such as police officers. Under the draft, a first-offense fine would range from $300 to $1,000, while subsequent offenses could attract penalties as high as $2,000. The legislation also seeks to prohibit harassment, threats, abusive or intimidating conduct and any offensive, aggressive behavior toward city staff, granting employees the right to deny service to those who misbehave.

The measure mirrors bylaws already in force in Quebec City, Laval, Longueuil and Sherbrooke, which together have issued thousands of such fines in the last six years. Council has scheduled two meetings early this week to consider the proposal.