The Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, judges that her government has been “generous” by investing $250 million over five years to increase the police force in Montreal.
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Asked to comment on the amount unveiled on Saturday on the eve of the election call, the Deputy Prime Minister told LCN that her government has been “responsible, proactive and generous” with its investment, which should allow the hiring of 450 additional police officers. in the midst of a crisis of armed violence in the metropolis.
This objective, which would however be unattainable according to our Bureau of investigation, in particular because of the planned retirements within the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) and the difficult conditions in Montreal which put off new graduates.
“When you put $250 million on the table over five years, it couldn’t be more real, it’s concrete, it’s precise and it’s quantified,” defended Ms. Guilbault, recalling however that the armed violence in Montreal is a matter of municipal authority.
“The nuance that is important to bring into this whole debate is that the SPVM, its management is under the municipal administration of the City of Montreal, so [le gouvernement] cannot go and manage staffing, human resources management, job creation, etc. for them. It’s not our role […]. I don’t think Montreal would like to see the Quebec government interfere in this, and with good reason,” added Geneviève Guilbault.
The outgoing Minister of Public Security assured that she was “on the same wavelength” as the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, on the fact that an increased police presence is needed. However, she believes that we also need “prevention, repression, police capacity and more street workers”.