Racial profiling is a ‘systemic problem’ in Montreal police, judge rules in class action lawsuit

A Quebec judge has ruled that racial profiling is a systemic problem in the Montreal police force and has awarded damages to victims in a class action lawsuit.

The lawsuit was brought by the Black Coalition of Quebec, which sought $17 million, up to $5,000 per person racially profiled by police.

In a ruling today, Quebec Court Judge Dominique Poulin ordered the city of Montreal to pay $5,000 to certain members of the class, while others are entitled to lesser amounts.

The lead plaintiff in the case was Alexandre Lamontagne. He was stopped by police as he was leaving a bar, pushed to the ground, handcuffed and taken to the police station.

He was issued three tickets and charged with obstructing police and assaulting a police officer, but all charges against him were eventually dropped.

The trial heard, among others, Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher and Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante.

In August 2019, a Quebec court judge approved a class action lawsuit against the city of Montreal on behalf of citizens who alleged they were wrongfully arrested, detained, and racially profiled by police between mid-August 2017 and January 2019.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 3, 2024.