Montréal city council has adopted a new bylaw prohibiting insults, threats, harassment and aggressive behaviour directed at municipal employees, including police officers, while they are carrying out their duties.
The measure was approved on September 22, 2026, by a vote of 35 to 25 after a debate that lasted more than half an hour, according to reported coverage.
The Montreal bylaw allows fines ranging from $300 to $1,000 for a first offence and up to $2,000 for subsequent offences, according to the reported wording of the measure.
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What the new Montreal bylaw prohibits
The regulation targets conduct toward a member of the city’s staff who is acting in the course of their work.
The prohibited behaviour includes intimidation, harassment, threats, verbal abuse and insults, as well as conduct described as offensive, humiliating, abusive, violent or aggressive, according to reported details.
The rule applies beyond the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, or SPVM, and covers other municipal employees and personnel working for city services.
The measure is intended to give the city an enforcement tool when interactions with staff move beyond disagreement or criticism and into conduct officials characterize as abusive or threatening.
Why council approved the measure
The proposal followed public attention around confrontations involving members of the SPVM, including a video circulated online showing an aggressive interaction between a motorist and a police officer, as reported at the time.
Supporters have argued that municipal workers should be able to perform their duties without being threatened, harassed or subjected to repeated abuse.
The Federation of Quebec Municipal Police Officers previously welcomed the initiative, saying Montréal had taken too long to create a rule specifically addressing inappropriate behaviour toward police and other city employees, according to its statement.
Montréal already maintains an internal policy promoting respect, courtesy and civil conduct in dealings involving its approximately 28,000 employees, but that policy is not the same as a bylaw carrying monetary penalties.
Critics raise free-expression and enforcement concerns
The official opposition criticized the city for moving ahead before broader consultations could take place.
Opposition councillor Marie Plourde argued that council members were being asked to approve the measure before they had fully examined its implications. Critics have also questioned how terms such as “insult,” “offensive” and “humiliating” will be interpreted in practice, according to reported criticism.
Civil-liberties organizations have warned that a broad rule could give police significant discretion over speech that is rude or disrespectful but not threatening.
Those groups have raised concerns that subjective enforcement could affect people who already experience disproportionate police contact, including Black, Indigenous and Arab communities, as reported in coverage of the debate.
The debate also touches on the difference between criticism of public officials, which remains part of democratic participation, and conduct that obstructs, threatens or intimidates an employee.
What happens next
The city has not publicly specified when enforcement of the newly adopted regulation will begin, according to reported updates.
Implementation will likely determine how officers and other designated personnel document alleged violations, distinguish protected criticism from prohibited conduct and decide when a ticket is appropriate.
Any disputed tickets could ultimately be tested before the municipal court, where the meaning and application of the regulation may be examined on a case-by-case basis.
Montréal’s council meeting is the city’s main forum for adopting bylaws, budgets, programs and government agreements. The city publishes meeting agendas and related documents through its official council records system.
For residents, the immediate practical takeaway is that swearing at or criticizing a municipal employee is not automatically the same as committing an offence. The wording and circumstances of an interaction, along with how the regulation is enforced, will be central to determining its effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Montréal’s new bylaw prohibit?
It prohibits intimidation, harassment, threats, insults and abusive, aggressive, violent, offensive or humiliating behaviour toward municipal employees acting in the course of their duties.
How much are the fines under the bylaw?
Reported penalties range from $300 to $1,000 for a first offence and up to $2,000 for subsequent offences.
Does the bylaw apply only to police officers?
No. It applies to police officers and other Montréal municipal employees covered by the regulation.
Does criticizing a city employee automatically violate the bylaw?
Not necessarily. The application of the rule will depend on the conduct, language and circumstances of each incident, including whether the behaviour is considered insulting, threatening or abusive.
When will Montréal begin enforcing the bylaw?
City officials had not specified an enforcement start date as of September 22, 2026.
Fact-Checked: Key details were checked against Montréal’s official council information and municipal policy pages, with the adoption result and fine amounts cross-checked against current reporting on the council vote.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes a newly adopted municipal regulation and is not legal advice.