The abolition of the municipal police force of Thetford Mines is the consequence of the imbalance in the funding of police services in Quebec, denounces the Federation of municipal police officers of Quebec.
The mayor of the City of Thetford Mines, Marc-André Brousseau announced on Thursday that he was resigning himself to abolishing his local police with death in the soul, citing financial reasons to justify his decision.
The FPMQ says it cannot explain the government’s inaction to remedy the financial imbalance affecting municipal police forces financed by citizens, while it subsidizes the cities served by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) to the tune of 50%.
The Federation believes that the fact that the government quickly endorsed the abolition of the Thetford Mines police force demonstrates its failure to find a solution to the inequitable funding of the police in Quebec.
“A transfer of police responsibilities to the SQ will lead to a loss of proximity with the citizens of the City of Thetford Mines,” lamented in a press release François Lemay, president of the FPMQ.
“Such a spreading of the workforce is contrary to any attempt to preserve a local police force; an essential element guaranteeing shorter response times and stronger ties with the community,” added Mr. Lemay.