Lawyers challenge Montreal bylaw banning insults against city employees

A group of lawyers has launched a legal challenge against a new Montreal bylaw that bans insults and other offensive behaviour directed at city employees, including police. The SaintMichel legal clinic and a progressive jurists association say the measure goes too far and violates freedom of expression. According to lawyer Fernando Belton, the challenge was filed in Quebec Superior Court on Wednesday, two days after city council adopted the bylaw. The rule prohibits insults, harassment, threats, abuse, intimidation, and aggressive or offensive conduct. Opposition councillors voted against it, saying the city did not clearly define the terms and did not hold enough public consultation. The bylaw has also drawn scrutiny because it was approved as Montreal police face ongoing controversy over alleged racist misconduct and broader legal disputes involving police stops and systemic racism.