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Montreal city council to debate bylaw banning insults against municipal employees

  • Erika Morris

  • Canadian Press

  • September 21, 2026

Montreal police chief Fady Dagher and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada announce that the police will be equipped with body cameras during a press conference in Montreal on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

MONTREAL -- Montreal city council is set to debate a proposed bylaw this week that could ban people from insulting municipal employees, including police officers.

If adopted, residents who insult city staff can face fines between $300 and $1,000 for a first offence.

Subsequent offences could result in fines up to $2,000.

The draft bylaw's current wording would ban insults, harassment, threats, abuse, and intimidation, as well as offensive and aggressive behaviour.

It also includes provisions saying city employees could refuse to provide services to someone who misbehaves.

Other municipalities in the province, including Quebec City, Laval, Longueuil, and Sherbrooke, have similar bylaws in place.

The Canadian Press reported in June that some of these Quebec municipalities have issued thousands of these fines over the past six years.

City council has two meetings scheduled early this week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2026.