As racial tensions simmer within Montreal's community, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has called for an end to random police checks amidst allegations of systemic racism and racial profiling. The city's police force is currently embroiled in a deep-seated probe into 16 officers accused of disproportionately targeting Black and Arab residents.
The issue gained added urgency after Mayor Martinez Ferrada revealed that her husband, who is Black, has been repeatedly stopped by police while driving without apparent cause – an experience she believes is far from isolated for many racialised individuals in the city. In fact, the Mayor's testimony echoes long-standing complaints of racial profiling within Montreal.
A recent internal investigation has seen several officers reassigned or relocated pending further examination. An additional two have been suspended, and two cases have been referred to Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The police chief expressed deep dismay at the allegations, stating he was 'extremely surprised' by such behaviour.
The severity of the claims against the officers cannot be overstated – including allegations that some used excessive force and issued tickets based solely on an individual's ethnic background. Quebec's new Premier, Christine Fréchette, condemned these actions as 'unacceptable', but refused to acknowledge systemic racism, instead attributing such incidents to a 'small group' of officers.
Racial profiling is not a recent phenomenon within Montreal's police force. A 2024 class-action lawsuit saw Quebec residents awarded damages for being racially profiled and arrested without justification by the city's police. Furthermore, a 2021 coroner's report concluded that an Indigenous woman would likely have survived had she been white, highlighting systemic racism in her treatment.
Mayor Martinez Ferrada views halting random checks as essential to rebuilding trust within affected communities – with body cameras being touted as a vital tool in preventing future instances of misconduct. While not a complete solution, this step acknowledges the need for greater accountability within Montreal's police force.