The “Maureen Breau” bill is in line with the recommendations of coroner Me Géhane Kamel, believes Minister François Bonnardel, who tabled the legislative text before even knowing the conclusions of the investigation into the policewoman’s death.
” I think [que le projet de loi 66] responds positively to two major problems: poor communication between the different partners, medical teams, police officers and the monitoring of a person who has conditions following a judgment by the [Commission d’examen des troubles mentaux] with the creation of liaison officer positions,” argued the Minister of Public Security.
François Bonnardel denies having tabled his bill too early, last spring, before the coroner Géhane Kamel’s investigation report was tabled. Special consultations on the legislative text begin Tuesday in the National Assembly at the same time as the coroner commented on the conclusions of her public inquiry into the police officer’s death on duty in Louiseville in March 2023.
“These are the two problems that we were already talking about, we didn’t start from scratch. We started the work, I wanted to be able to get funding as quickly as possible to be able to support correctional services and liaison officers,” added the minister in a press scrum.
Bill 66 tightens the monitoring of people who have already been found not criminally responsible due to mental disorder or unfit to stand trial. This was the case for Isaac Brouillard Lessard, who killed Mme Breau during the police intervention that went wrong. Quebec is also creating 20 liaison officer positions to act as a link between police forces and medical teams.
In her hundred-page report released Monday, the coroner denounced that “several red flags were present and were not considered.” “Working in silos” and the lack of communication between the health system, the judicial system and the police forces were the subject of several of Ms.e Kamel.
“Sit down together and make sure everyone knows everyone else’s role,” Mr.e Géhane Kamel at a press briefing Tuesday morning. “I understand that there is sacrosanct confidentiality,” the coroner acknowledged Tuesday. “I invite all parties to talk to each other. We still have the right to talk to each other in Quebec,” she nevertheless stressed.
With Mayssa Ferrah, The Press