Montreal Advocacy Coalition Intensifies Pressure for Police Body Camera Implementation
A diverse coalition of civil rights and community organizations is intensifying its campaign for the City of Montreal to equip its police force with body-worn cameras, calling on Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada's administration to demonstrate stronger political commitment to this long-promised measure.
Community Leaders Emphasize Urgency and Accountability
During a virtual news conference held on Friday, representatives from multiple groups—many representing visible minority communities across Montreal—argued that body cameras represent an essential tool for modern policing and community trust-building.
"Where there's a will, there's a way," declared Max Stanley Bazin, president of the Black Coalition of Quebec. "Body cameras are not a luxury, they are a minimum guarantee in a modern democracy."
Bazin emphasized that the technology serves multiple critical functions: "They are a tool for rebuilding trust, reducing tensions and clarifying the truth when serious incidents occur."
Municipal Promises Meet Provincial Roadblocks
The push comes despite Martinez Ferrada and her Ensemble Montréal party having explicitly promised to address the body camera issue during last fall's municipal election campaign. The administration's recently tabled 10-year capital works program includes a substantial $40 million allocation for body cameras and additional public security cameras, though it provides no specific implementation timeline.
Both the city and Montreal police have consistently maintained that they require approval from Quebec's justice and public security departments before proceeding with camera deployment. Provincial officials have indicated they're developing the necessary legal framework, including ensuring footage admissibility in court proceedings.
Police Leadership Supports Measure But Awaits Provincial Decision
Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher expressed support for body cameras during this week's public review of Montreal's 2026 budget, while acknowledging the provincial constraints.
"I'm in favour of the measure but stressed I can't act until the province makes a decision," Dagher stated, adding that he hopes for a ruling soon but cannot provide specific timing. "It could be in two months, in several months, I don't know exactly."
Mayor Maintains Commitment While Highlighting Provincial Dependency
Responding to the coalition's criticisms on Friday, Mayor Martinez Ferrada reaffirmed her commitment to implementing body cameras while emphasizing her administration's limited authority without provincial cooperation.
"If Quebec doesn't get on board, I can't do it," she explained. "But for me, the message had to be very clear in the budget: the funds are there, and we are waiting on our partner, which is Quebec."
The mayor reiterated her view that cameras represent "a tool to build trust" between police and Montreal communities.
Quebec Government Continues Deliberative Process
A spokesperson for Quebec's public security department confirmed ongoing collaboration with the province's office of criminal prosecutions to assess potential impacts of a provincewide rollout.
The evaluation specifically examines "the workload of judicial officials, the length of hearings, and the time required to process court cases."
The department acknowledged having no current timeline for a decision, noting they're monitoring relevant studies and observing body camera deployments in other Canadian provinces.
This ongoing provincial deliberation leaves Montreal's community groups, municipal officials, and police leadership in a holding pattern as they await Quebec's final determination on this significant policing and accountability measure.
