It is impossible to know exactly how much the federal government will have to pay for Pope Francis’ visit to Quebec. The bill, estimated at tens of millions of dollars, will be partly inflated by the important security device deployed.
Tuesday, the eve of the arrival of the sovereign pontiff in Quebec, the strong police presence was already noticed in the streets. Headlights on, officers on motorcycles and imposing black vehicles circulated around the ramparts of the national capital.
A total of four police forces must ensure the smooth running of the event. Officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and the Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ) will indeed have support this week. Montreal police were dispatched to Quebec for the occasion.
According to our information, the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) will send a “small contingent” of peace officers to the Quebec region on Wednesday and Thursday. The latter will ensure an as yet undetermined role, but the federal government will assume the costs of their “salaries, hotel and daily allowances”, as determined by their collective agreement.
Under close surveillance
After Edmonton, where he spent his first three days in Canadian territory, Pope Francis must cross the country on Wednesday and go to the Quebec capital, where he will participate in an activity on the Plains of Abraham. He will then celebrate mass at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré sanctuary.
It is the RCMP that is leading the boat for this expected visit, “in close collaboration with the Vatican,” said by email the head of French-language media for the papal visit to Canada, Erika Jacinto. “The RCMP provides perimeter security at the various sites visited by the Pope,” said Corporal Tasha Adams of the Police Force’s Communications Office. The external security of the sites, road traffic and the management of public order are the responsibility of the competent local police services. »
As a good part of the papal visit will take place on its territory, the SPVQ will actively participate in the event. The police service, however, refused “for strategic reasons” to reveal how many officers will be on the ground and whether it has procured any special equipment.
“However, what we can say is that for the papal visit, the entire Quebec City Police Department was mobilized. the [SPVQ] appealed to the collaboration of its members for this unique major event. The workforce mobilized in large numbers, on a voluntary basis. At the SQ, agents had to give up their holidays to participate in the visit of the sovereign pontiff.
“We still managed to find some terms. But yes, it unfortunately had repercussions on people. […] It’s not something we like very much, ”said the president of the Association of Provincial Police Officers of Quebec, Dominic Ricard, in an interview. The police officers affected will be able to resume their leave afterwards.
How many ?
Asked about the sums it will have to pay for this visit organized late, the Quebec Ministry of Public Security indicated that it did not know this amount for the moment. However, it is the federal government which should assume all the related costs, it was indicated.
“Discussions are underway with the federal government to reimburse the expenses incurred by the Government of Quebec and the municipalities concerned, in accordance with the Framework on the security costs of major international events,” wrote publicist Louise Quintin at To have to.
It has been 20 years since a pope set foot in Canada. The last is John Paul II, in 2002, and before that in 1984. At the time, these two visits had cost more than 50 millions of dollars. Ottawa has already pledged $35 million to support Indigenous communities and residential school survivors during the papal visit. For the rest, “it is still too early to provide details on the costs”, it was indicated to the To have to.
The inhabitants of Quebec and its region can expect significant hindrances during the Pope’s visit to the capital. Travelers can in particular anticipate a “complete closure of access to the airport [Jean-Lesage] between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.” due to the arrival by air of Pope Francis. Then, in anticipation of the caravan passing through Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Route 138 will be closed between Boischatel and Beaupré on Thursday.