Law designed to scare the pants off Montreal cops

MONTREAL — In recent years, Montrealers have become used to seeing their police officers working in bright pink militarystyle pants, jeans and even leggings.

But while they don’t profess to be fans of the look, several Montrealers expressed mixed feelings about a bill tabled Thursday that would force the officers to ditch the colourful pants they’ve been wearing to protest changes to their pensions.

Lucie Landriault, 64, said she thought the pants were an embarrassment to the city, but still wasn’t sure it was right to legislate officers back into their uniforms.

“I’m divided because they don’t have the right to strike, and they don’t have a lot of pressure tactics [available to them],” she said on a pause from a bike ride in Montreal’s Old Port.

“At the same time it’s unsightly and embarrassing — downright embarrassing.”

Montreal police have been wearing camouflage and other brightly coloured pants since July 2014 as part of pressure tactics stemming from a battle over pension reforms.

The bill tabled Thursday by Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux would amend the Police Act to obligate officers and special constables to wear the uniform and equipment provided by their employer.

At a news conference, Coiteux denied he was taking away one of the police’s few available means of protest.

“We’re not curtailing freedom of expression, not at all, but it can’t be done through disrespecting the uniform,” he said.

If the bill passes, Coiteux said officers would face fines ranging from $500 to $3,000 for a first violation. That could double for repeat offenders.