The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) sends a “worrying” and “truly troubling” message in view of the upcoming elections by claiming that the methods of security for political events have not changed since the attack on the Metropolis in 2012, is alarmed the parliamentary leader of the Parti Québécois, who criticizes the SQ for “protecting its image”.
Posted at 12:36 p.m.
The opposition party reacted to the revelations of The Press Friday morning. As part of the civil lawsuit brought by survivors of the attack, the Prime Minister’s security chief testified under oath on Thursday that the SQ would maintain “the same” basic security plan if a political party celebrates the elections in next October at Métropolis (now MTELUS).
However, on September 4, 2012, the evening of the election of Prime Minister Pauline Marois, Denis Blanchette was assassinated and Dave Courage was seriously injured by Richard Henry Bain. No policeman was probably present behind the theater to block his way. If his gun hadn’t jammed, real carnage would have taken place.
“The basic security plan is going to be the same. […] The recipe is the same from 2012 to 2022. […] We apply the same methods, ”testified Lieutenant Pierre Bertrand, head of the close protection unit for SQ dignitaries. His team will protect the four main party leaders during the election campaign this fall.
PHOTO JACQUES BOISSINOT, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Joel Arseneau
This position of the SQ “disappoints” and “worries” the Parti Québécois. “I would rather have thought that with a certain hindsight, the SQ could admit that these events were absolutely inadmissible and inexcusable and that there had been major flaws in the security provided to the new Prime Minister and that strong examination of the circumstances, that we have improved our practices,” maintains Joël Arseneau, PQ parliamentary leader, in an interview.
Not only was there a death, but a “carnage” was narrowly avoided, recalls the chosen one. In this context, that the SQ says that “everything done in the rules of the art and that we have not improved the practices, it is truly disturbing”, he insists.
“We have an even more polarized society than in 2012. When emotions are on edge, like coming out of a pandemic. We have an election campaign coming up. We want the Sûreté du Québec, in its practices, to be at the cutting edge of intervention methods, whereas here, the message is rather worrying,” concludes Joël Arseneau.
Lieutenant Bertrand was testifying Thursday at the Montreal courthouse as part of a media request, including The Pressaimed at contesting a request for in camera and non-publication requested by the Attorney General of Quebec to protect numerous elements relating to security measures in 2012.
Four survivors of the attack are suing the SQ and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal for damages suffered as a result of poor security that evening. They are each claiming $125,000.
With Tommy Chouinard