That's available to all provinces, so unless quebec invoked it to bypass all clauses of the charter, it's still accurate to say they're subject to it. Otherwise you can say that ontario isn't bound by the constitution either, because they can theoretically invoke that clause.
Canada only enforces the parts of its Charter the current government feels like, and actively does the opposite of its Charter when the current government feels like it.
With no respect at all, fuck their dignity. Hear me out. Their dignity is a work hazard. They’re representing the government, they need to drop their personal ego. The government is attempting to codify being emotionally triggered at work lol.
She got chewed out. Then everyone walked away. She got support. Cool.
The government is like you know what this should’ve been escalated.
I’m not condoning verbal abuse. There are enough protections. This is a distraction piece to forget that Mamdani is doing wild shit just a few hours away
I think these are the key sentences in that article (below). This bylaw is probably targeted toward citizens that come in and berate staff because they find out they have an unpaid parking ticket from 2 years ago that they have to pay before renewing their license (for example).
>The new Montreal bylaw 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. However, the bylaw doesn't define what could be construed as an insult.
> This bylaw is probably targeted toward citizens that come in and berate staff because they find out they have an unpaid parking ticket from 2 years ago that they have to pay before renewing their license (for example).
That's how the (evil) people who support it will construe it. In reality that kind of stuff doesn't really bother employees all that much because it's just part of the job, they knew it going in and everyone agrees those sort of people are out of line.
What bothers employees is when they get heckled for doing (in the course of their job) stuff that just about everyone agrees is wrong, bad, stupid or heavy handed, because most of those employees know deep down they're in the wrong, and having it pointed out and having enough of the public agree with the hecklers in message if not in delivery is a real morale killer. And then your burnt out employees stop giving a shit, do a bad job, get caught on camera enforcing the "you had to lie through your teeth to defend it to begin with" policy in a way that lays bare how f-d up it is. And that's what they're trying to avoid by threatening to fine any peasant who opens their mouth.
Abusing employees in a business is already banned. Harassment by verbal abuse and you can get criminal penalties if it's serious enough. Threats and false allegations are also illegal. There are existing laws for all the serious cases.
Criminalizing an insult is not the same thing at all. This law could get people fined for saying some cop is racist or even things not aimed at a specific person like wearing a fuck the police shirt. And insults are subjective so it's all up to the prosecutor and judge, who might side with the police by default when the evidence is unclear.
For context, police gained support for this bylaw following this video. The guy posted the video of himself of calling the policewoman a whore on socia media.
For context, police gained support for this bylaw following this video. The guy posted the video of himself of calling an office a whore on socia media. The fact the officer was so polite and couldn't do anything about it made people furious. Of course, there is real risk of abuse of this law but that's the context.
This is a hate speech problem, if there's protection to be put in place it's against misogyny, not against insulting police. Why would policewomen be protected against being called a whore but post office workers wouldn't?
That’s sad that there are people ready to throw their low level of self control and rhetorical ability. The officer should be formed and continuously supported (ie. dedicated professional psychological access) to face that kind of reactions.
That’s even sadder that people can’t refrain from supporting such a juridical decision with huge possible side effects in terms of abusive application.
In both cases, that’s some kind of impulsive reactions lacking proper rational counterparts to balance the performed actions. And the second one feels far more problematic at societal level, without dismissing in any way the due empathy for the officer.
Something similar was attempted in Houston in the 1980s and the US Supreme Court struck it down as a clear 1st Amendment violation [1]
> The Constitution does not allow such speech to be made a crime. The freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principal characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state.
The current supreme court cited the 1987 Houston ruling in both 2024 and 2025 in decisions that reaffirmed insulting police officers as constitutionally protected speech.
I'm pro people having dignity in their jobs, but considering how unnecessarily complex and sometimes even hostile modern bureaucracy is this is going to remove one feedback mechanism that may have been globally good.
There needs to be tit-for-tat fixes to the way the public and police interact.
If we cannot say mean things under extreme duress, then they shouldn't be allowed to lie/mislead to extract evidence. (The inverse is illegal afaik -- to lie to an officer)
It's pretty interesting how many comments ask questions that were asked by the article. Not surprising, as I also didn't read the article before reading the comments. But it is a well-written news article.
As western societies have become more authoritarian, governments are resorting to banning even the most minor types of resistance. For example, when going through airport security in the UK and US you will see signs warning that insulting security officers is a criminal offense. As laws become more senseless and needlessly punitive, this is a disappointing development.
Unfortunately, I suspect eventually this strategy of "containment" of dissent will eventually lead to outbursts of violence since less extreme forms of dissent are not tolerated anyway.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
All over the world, people in power seem to be forgetting this. Unfortunately for us all, it's likely that they'll need a practical reminder before they remember.
> However, she said incidents of inappropriate behaviour have increased dramatically and are harming city employees, and making it more difficult to recruit new employees.
> "The thousands of women and men who work every day to serve Montreal have the right to protection from their employer, which is us."
So basically it was pushed through despite being unpopular or unfinished because they have legitimate employment problems in government right now.
There's erosion of trust in the government, and the solution will further erode trust. Unfortunately this is not an exclusive problem to Canada right now.
Reasonable minds can disagree on a citizen’s right to speak freely versus his neighbor’s right to not have their feelings hurt by words, but I can’t fathom a reasonable argument why such a protection should only apply to government workers and the police.
64 comments
[ 8.0 ms ] story [ 50.7 ms ] threadapparently it can be
is there appeals to national courts there
>The Charter is applicable in Quebec because all provinces are bound by the constitution.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_33_of_the_Canadian_Cha...
Already illegal: "I'm going to kick your ass" Now illegal: "You're a poopy head"
how would you feel if ppl called you that at work.
There are many people who deserve to feel ashamed for what they do for a living.
A lot of people should be shunned for what they do to others, regardless of whether it's for making money or for other purposes.
With no respect at all, fuck their dignity. Hear me out. Their dignity is a work hazard. They’re representing the government, they need to drop their personal ego. The government is attempting to codify being emotionally triggered at work lol.
She got chewed out. Then everyone walked away. She got support. Cool.
The government is like you know what this should’ve been escalated.
I’m not condoning verbal abuse. There are enough protections. This is a distraction piece to forget that Mamdani is doing wild shit just a few hours away
They only defend monied interests of the political elite and rich folk. And yet they demand 'authority', even when not at all deserved.
>The new Montreal bylaw 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. However, the bylaw doesn't define what could be construed as an insult.
That's how the (evil) people who support it will construe it. In reality that kind of stuff doesn't really bother employees all that much because it's just part of the job, they knew it going in and everyone agrees those sort of people are out of line.
What bothers employees is when they get heckled for doing (in the course of their job) stuff that just about everyone agrees is wrong, bad, stupid or heavy handed, because most of those employees know deep down they're in the wrong, and having it pointed out and having enough of the public agree with the hecklers in message if not in delivery is a real morale killer. And then your burnt out employees stop giving a shit, do a bad job, get caught on camera enforcing the "you had to lie through your teeth to defend it to begin with" policy in a way that lays bare how f-d up it is. And that's what they're trying to avoid by threatening to fine any peasant who opens their mouth.
IMO this rule is not good but there is a trade-off being made either way.
Yes it does
>they knew it going in
No. Nor civil employees nor service workers go to work expecting to be abused.
You sound very much like a person who likes to verbally abuse those you deem beneath you
Angry people who are right burn out employees.
Nobody likes being a human shield for their employer.
Like: police officer does something racist. Person says "hey, you're racist!". Police officer then gives a $1000 fine to the person for insulting them
You already see this in many public businesses. Front line workers should not have to endure abuse from the public.
But, the standard for sworn officers should be much higher.
Criminalizing an insult is not the same thing at all. This law could get people fined for saying some cop is racist or even things not aimed at a specific person like wearing a fuck the police shirt. And insults are subjective so it's all up to the prosecutor and judge, who might side with the police by default when the evidence is unclear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9YMLpiDPWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9YMLpiDPWs
That’s even sadder that people can’t refrain from supporting such a juridical decision with huge possible side effects in terms of abusive application.
In both cases, that’s some kind of impulsive reactions lacking proper rational counterparts to balance the performed actions. And the second one feels far more problematic at societal level, without dismissing in any way the due empathy for the officer.
> The Constitution does not allow such speech to be made a crime. The freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principal characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state.
[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/482/451
you do realize that Montreal, Canada is not in the 51st state, correct?
So yes, the current SCOTUS has already upheld it.
but you can legally call them cunts, so that's okay I guess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiMLVYK4hEc
If we cannot say mean things under extreme duress, then they shouldn't be allowed to lie/mislead to extract evidence. (The inverse is illegal afaik -- to lie to an officer)
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2026-09-21...
Unfortunately, I suspect eventually this strategy of "containment" of dissent will eventually lead to outbursts of violence since less extreme forms of dissent are not tolerated anyway.
All over the world, people in power seem to be forgetting this. Unfortunately for us all, it's likely that they'll need a practical reminder before they remember.
The police woman is amazingly patient.
> "The thousands of women and men who work every day to serve Montreal have the right to protection from their employer, which is us."
So basically it was pushed through despite being unpopular or unfinished because they have legitimate employment problems in government right now.
There's erosion of trust in the government, and the solution will further erode trust. Unfortunately this is not an exclusive problem to Canada right now.