While the effectiveness of the curfew in curbing the pandemic has not been proven, its harmful effects have been observed: in one year, nearly half of the reports issued by the police were for breach of curfew.
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Among the 46,563 tickets issued between September 21, 2020 and October 3, 2021, more than 22,000 were for non-compliance with the curfew, which was in effect between January 9 and May 28, 2021.
“The punitive approach has fueled discriminatory and abusive police practices such as racial and social profiling, arrest and judicialization, without stopping the spread of the virus! “Explained via press release on Friday, Catherine Descoteaux, coordinator of the League of Rights and Freedoms (LDL).
“The curfew constitutes a draconian measure whose scientific effectiveness has not been proven to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, whereas on the contrary, we know full well that it has had disproportionate harmful effects on several populations. marginalized,” said Ms. Descoteaux.
For the LDL, the health crisis is not a reason to resort to these practices, citing the example of British Columbia. The province would have chosen different means than Quebec, with “a discourse based on compassion and empathy rather than blame”.
The report of the Profiling Observatory (ODP) on which the LDL is based, has also revealed that Montreal is the region where the rate of delivery of COVID statements of offense is the highest.
“Considering the staggering amount of fines associated with statements of offence, it becomes clear that this repression has had detrimental effects for people with precarious or marginalized status,” lamented the coordinator.
In fact, the amounts per statement would be in the order of $1,000 to $6,000, not including additional costs.
“Let us also remember that this repressive climate was reinforced by public calls for denunciation, which necessarily had the effect of aggravating the stigmatization of these populations,” added Ms. Descoteaux.
In December 2021, Montreal Public Health issued an unfavorable opinion on the use of the curfew to manage the pandemic. However, this was implemented for a few weeks at the start of the year.
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Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com