Despite dissatisfaction from civic groups, Quebec’s mayor has no intention of changing his bill framing demonstrations in the city.
• Also read: Static events no longer need to be reported to the SPVQ in advance
• Also read: The city of Quebec changes its statute on demonstrations
Mayor Bruno Marchand believes his project to change the demonstration order could enable a “balance” between the right to demonstrate and security.
He recalled that in December he had promised to come back with a rewrite of the rules. “We had the courage to consult the groups,” he said on the sidelines of the city council meeting on Tuesday. “We changed a lot of things.”
The new regulations stipulate that in future only mobile demonstrations will have to be reported to the police. Some groups expressed dissatisfaction.
Several opposing groups
Groups gathered Tuesday, including the Québec and Chaudière-Appalaches Regions’ Regroupement d’éducation populaire en action Communautaire, the Regroupement des Groupe de Femmes de la Region de la Capitale-Nationale, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Popular Committee and the Ligue The Quebec des droits et libertés section expressed its opposition to the draft new ordinance and urged elected officials not to proceed with the adoption.
They consider the changes to be minimal and regret the fines imposed on the organizers.
The mayor remains in office
The mayor remains adamant on one point. “When the only way to please them is to say that once a demonstration is underway, there is no longer any obligation […] to report to the police and report their ride, the answer is no. There will be an obligation to be able to secure everything.
He reminds that several examples of clashes at demonstrations here and elsewhere show that these events need to be regulated.
Can you share information about this story with us?
Write to us or call us directly at 1-800-63SCOOP.