Montreal Mayor, SPVM director to testify in unfair arrest lawsuit

Montreal’s mayor and members of the SPVM have all been subpoenaed by Quebec Superior Court to testify in a class action lawsuit filed by the Quebec Black Coalition in 2019.

Among those who will appear in court are, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante, current SPVM Director Fady Dagher, former SPVM Director Sylvain Caron, SPVM Fraternity President Yves Francoeur and the President of Montreal executive committee Dominique Ollivier.

According to court documents, the Black Coalition is asking for a total of $170 million for individuals that have been arrested based on race in Montreal.

Lawyer Mike Diomande says those who appear in court will be questioned on why “there has been no real action in the past 40 years to end racial profiling.”

“This is a matter of public interest! Why hasn’t there been more publicity around these hearings? This case has taken four years to make its way to this stage and the people need to know what’s going on! The RC will monitor these hearings,” said Joel DeBellefeuille, Founder and Exec. Director of the Red Coalition.

The Red Coalition noted the defense says, “The City of Montreal, the SPVM, their representatives and their employees have at all times relevant to the present acted reasonably and in good faith. The SPVM has taken the means to try to counter racial profiling, conscious or more often than not, unconscious. However, acts of racial profiling are far from systematic and are the exception rather than the rule.”

The hearing began on Feb. 8 and is expected to last for 13 days.

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