Montreal police union to challenge firing of 7 SPVM officers, calling the process unprecedented

MONTREAL, Nov 4 — The union representing Montreal police officers says it will challenge the dismissal of seven members of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). Union president Yves Francoeur said in a memo to members that the dismissals raise "fundamental questions of law." Speaking on 98.5 FM on November 4, he said the union would challenge the procedure, which he called arbitrary, rather than the firings themselves, because it lacks evidence. (Photo is a file image of SPVM officers, not the officers involved.)

How the administrative dismissals worked

SPVM chief Fady Dagher announced the firings on Monday, November 2, over allegations of discriminatory and racist conduct and harm to vulnerable people. After consulting City of Montreal lawyers, the force revoked the seven officers' accreditations, which triggered automatic dismissal, Radio-Canada reported. Dagher said officers must be of good moral character and reputation to keep their accreditation, a standard the seven no longer met; Quebec's Police Act, Section 115, lists good moral character among the minimum conditions for hiring an officer. Dagher called the measure a first for the force and acknowledged the officers could seek reinstatement, in which case the force would refer them to its disciplinary committee, the Canadian Press reported.

Where the allegations came from

The allegations date to June 2026, when 16 Station 39 officers were accused of racist acts during police stops, CBC News reported. The seven dismissed officers came from Station 39 and Station 21. The force has submitted its investigation information to the Crown prosecutor's office, which will decide whether criminal charges are laid; the criminal process is separate from the administrative dismissals.

Union and community reaction

In the memo, as translated by CBC News, Francoeur wrote: "It was done through a method that is totally unknown in our history of labour relations." He added that labour law "cannot be unilaterally rewritten" by the employer, while reiterating that the alleged acts, if true, would violate police values. Community advocates welcomed the dismissals but said they fall short: Beverly Jacques, director of Coalition Pozé, called the firings a good start but questioned whether criminal charges will follow, and social worker and artist Ricardo Lamour wants the officers named, saying Montreal police must be accountable to the public. At city hall, opposition party Projet Montréal said firing seven officers is the bare minimum and fails to solve the core issue; some groups want an independent public inquiry, while Quebec public security minister Guy Lapointe Jr. is not yet ready to take that step, CTV News reported.

(Sources: Canadian HR Reporter / CBC / Radio-Canada / Canadian Press, November 4, 2026; this site reported the firings themselves on November 3.)