People who harass or threaten Quebec politicians could soon receive a court order or a fine of up to $1,500, if a new bill introduced in the provincial legislature on Wednesday is adopted.
Municipal Affairs Minister Andrée Laforest presented the bill, which aims to put an end to the often toxic climate faced by elected officials.
He told reporters in Quebec City that the measures in the more than 40-page omnibus bill are designed to stop threatening behavior and that he is not concerned it will be used to muzzle political opposition.
“No, not at all,” he said in response to the question. “What we want is to stop situations that persist, threatening comments, violent comments.”
A recent survey by the union of Quebec municipalities found that 74 per cent of elected municipal officials reported experiencing harassment and intimidation, and that 741 out of 8,000 had resigned since the 2021 election.
While the Penal Code already contains laws against threats, Laforest said more measures were needed to address harassing language directed at politicians by citizens.
The email you need to receive the top news stories from Canada Day and around the world.
Laforest cited the example of a citizen who attends all city council meetings and uses abusive language. “It can boil over and then threatening comments can come out, so we are in a situation of abuse and threatening comments, so now we will be able to act,” she said.
The legislation would give police the power to impose a fine of between $50 and $500 on anyone who disrupts a city council meeting with disorderly conduct. A person who threatens, intimidates or harasses a municipal or provincial politician in a way that prevents him from doing his job or causes him to worry about his safety would face fines of between $500 and $1,500.
The bill would also authorize politicians subject to comments or actions that “unduly impede the exercise of their duties or invade their privacy” to apply to the Superior Court for an injunction. The court could then order the citizen to stop communicating with the politician or to refrain from going to his office or acting in a way that hinders his work.
While politicians can already appeal to the courts, the legislation would ensure the request is dealt with urgently.
Other sections of the bill would also require municipalities to adopt “internal management regulations” to describe how order, civility and respect should be maintained. As an example, Laforest said heated debates often break out when resolutions are introduced without warning, so regulations could outline how initiatives would be introduced and debated.
Laforest said he hopes the bill will be adopted in June.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
