Civil groups urge CAQ government to launch public inquiry into racism in the SPVM
Four civil organizations have asked Quebec’s CAQ government to order a public inquiry into racism in the SPVM, pressing for structural reforms after allegations at a Montréal‑Nord station.
Civil groups send formal request to Premier
Four Montreal civil-society groups — Hoodstock, the Saint‑Michel Legal Clinic, the Ligue des droits et libertés and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association — delivered a joint letter to Premier Christine Fréchette on Thursday.
The groups asked the CAQ government to open a public commission of inquiry into racism and racial profiling within the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM).
They said their request follows years of testimony, studies and court decisions that, together with recent reports, show systemic problems that require a public and independent examination.
Allegations that triggered the demand
The letter came about a week after the SPVM announced it had dismantled a team at neighbourhood station 39 in Montréal‑Nord amid serious allegations of racist conduct.
Media reports and complainants allege officers engaged in “unacceptable gestures and behaviours,” with several outlets reporting incidents in which the hair of racialized citizens was cut and kept as trophies.
Those accounts prompted public alarm and intensified calls from civil-society groups for a transparent, wide-ranging inquiry.
SPVM investigative actions to date
The SPVM says it opened an internal probe in March, which has so far resulted in the suspension of two officers and the reassignment of 14 others.
The cases of the suspended officers have been forwarded to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) for possible criminal charges, according to police statements.
Authorities have framed the measures as an interim response while the internal investigation continues.
Quebec government response and statements
Premier Christine Fréchette has not ruled out ordering a public inquiry, saying she wants to understand how the situation emerged and why similar problems persist before deciding on next steps.
Québec has committed to appoint an independent observer to follow the SPVM’s probe, a move the four organizations described in their letter as “wholly insufficient.”
Public-security Minister Ian Lafrenière also left open the possibility of a formal inquiry if the current investigation fails to fully clarify events.
Groups argue inquiry is the only way to rebuild trust
In their letter, the signatories argued that only a public commission can address the breach of trust between communities and law enforcement and produce binding, structural reforms.
They urged the government to use an inquiry to identify institutional failings, discriminatory practices and lapses in accountability that they say allowed racist conduct to persist.
The groups stressed the province’s responsibility to ensure public institutions respect rights and liberties and to establish mechanisms that prevent future abuses.
Debate over scope and remedies
Advocates pushing for a public commission say the review must go beyond individual discipline to examine policy, training, oversight and complaint mechanisms at the SPVM.
Critics of a limited approach argue that appointing an observer or relying solely on internal probes will not produce the transparency or remedy needed to restore public confidence.
Legal experts and rights organizations have recommended a range of measures, including independent civilian oversight, mandatory bias‑training reforms and changes to accountability processes.
Public confidence in policing in Montreal has been shaken by the allegations and the swift public reaction underscores broader anxieties about racial profiling and institutional discrimination.
As the SPVM investigation proceeds and the provincial government weighs its options, civil-society groups are maintaining pressure for a public, independent inquiry that they say is necessary to repair trust and prevent future misconduct.
