Police departments across Quebec issued dozens of $1,550 fines as the province’s curfew went into effect, it was reported..“Interim curfew report | Across Montreal, the #SPVM issued 84 reports for non-compliance with the curfew. Of these, 17 were surrendered during a demonstration. We thank the Montrealers for their excellent collaboration,” the Montreal Police department stated on social media..In Montreal, 17 people were ticketed for protesting Saturday near the Mont-Royal métro station, said police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils..The police department also indicated they had conducted several interventions to assist homeless people during the night..The Montreal Gazette reported in Quebec City, about 20 people protesting in front of the Musée de la civilisation were fined. Some of them were detained after refusing to identify themselves to police..In Sherbrooke, the police department confirmed that a dozen people participating in a protest against public health measures were also ticketed..The Sûreté du Québec issued a statement saying: “The police were aware that as a demonstration, demonstrations of non-compliance with the new public health rules were being organized. During the evening and night, the police intervened at about 20 places targeted in different municipalities in connection with the violation of the rules. Apart from a few incidents, excellent collaboration from the population was noted. Citizens were arrested throughout the country and more than 150 reports of offenses for non-compliance with the curfew were served.”.In Longueuil, no tickets were issued despite a protest having been announced on social media..“We showed up and nobody was there,” said Jean-Christophe Fortin of Longueuil police. “The $1,500 fine deterred many people.”.Vehicles from the Châteauguay police department circulated to ensure the new rules were being followed in Châteauguay, Beauharnois, Léry and St-Isidore. As of midnight, they had intervened with 143 vehicles and 161 drivers and passengers — but issued only six fines, it was reported..Despite a fair amount of vehicle traffic on the main roads of the 68,000-person territory, police spokesperson Jenny Lavigne said “most vehicles intercepted and citizens stopped had a valid reason to be out that was present on the list of exceptions.”.“As premier, my first duty is to protect Quebecers,” Legault said in a social media post, “I consider that the situation is critical and a shock treatment is needed. Our hospitals are filling with COVID-19 patients. Hundreds of people are in intensive care, fighting for their lives. Tens of people die every day.”.Quebec posted 2,641 COVID-19 cases Wednesday, up from 2,508 the previous day. Montreal recorded 846 cases, up from 760..COVID-19 attributed fatalities in Quebec rose by 47 to 8,488 — by far the highest of any province. Montreal added 16 COVID-19 fatalities to a total of 3,923..Within hours of Legault’s announcement of the curfew, which includes an exception for dog-owners, ads for dog rentals began appearing on Kijiji..One couple was even charged after police found the woman walking around with her partner on a leash..There was also video circulating of the curfew notice apparently being broadcast on an air raid siren..Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com
Police departments across Quebec issued dozens of $1,550 fines as the province’s curfew went into effect, it was reported..“Interim curfew report | Across Montreal, the #SPVM issued 84 reports for non-compliance with the curfew. Of these, 17 were surrendered during a demonstration. We thank the Montrealers for their excellent collaboration,” the Montreal Police department stated on social media..In Montreal, 17 people were ticketed for protesting Saturday near the Mont-Royal métro station, said police spokesperson Caroline Chèvrefils..The police department also indicated they had conducted several interventions to assist homeless people during the night..The Montreal Gazette reported in Quebec City, about 20 people protesting in front of the Musée de la civilisation were fined. Some of them were detained after refusing to identify themselves to police..In Sherbrooke, the police department confirmed that a dozen people participating in a protest against public health measures were also ticketed..The Sûreté du Québec issued a statement saying: “The police were aware that as a demonstration, demonstrations of non-compliance with the new public health rules were being organized. During the evening and night, the police intervened at about 20 places targeted in different municipalities in connection with the violation of the rules. Apart from a few incidents, excellent collaboration from the population was noted. Citizens were arrested throughout the country and more than 150 reports of offenses for non-compliance with the curfew were served.”.In Longueuil, no tickets were issued despite a protest having been announced on social media..“We showed up and nobody was there,” said Jean-Christophe Fortin of Longueuil police. “The $1,500 fine deterred many people.”.Vehicles from the Châteauguay police department circulated to ensure the new rules were being followed in Châteauguay, Beauharnois, Léry and St-Isidore. As of midnight, they had intervened with 143 vehicles and 161 drivers and passengers — but issued only six fines, it was reported..Despite a fair amount of vehicle traffic on the main roads of the 68,000-person territory, police spokesperson Jenny Lavigne said “most vehicles intercepted and citizens stopped had a valid reason to be out that was present on the list of exceptions.”.“As premier, my first duty is to protect Quebecers,” Legault said in a social media post, “I consider that the situation is critical and a shock treatment is needed. Our hospitals are filling with COVID-19 patients. Hundreds of people are in intensive care, fighting for their lives. Tens of people die every day.”.Quebec posted 2,641 COVID-19 cases Wednesday, up from 2,508 the previous day. Montreal recorded 846 cases, up from 760..COVID-19 attributed fatalities in Quebec rose by 47 to 8,488 — by far the highest of any province. Montreal added 16 COVID-19 fatalities to a total of 3,923..Within hours of Legault’s announcement of the curfew, which includes an exception for dog-owners, ads for dog rentals began appearing on Kijiji..One couple was even charged after police found the woman walking around with her partner on a leash..There was also video circulating of the curfew notice apparently being broadcast on an air raid siren..Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com