The Point dereferences organization is concerned about the increase in the number of infraction tickets given to homeless people in Quebec.
Citing a report on the judicialization of homelessness in Quebec, the organization reports 681 tickets issued to homeless people in the first six months of 2022. Of this number, 266 were reportedly issued for possession of consumer equipment.
The organization is asking the City of Quebec and the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) to recognize social profiling as a real problem. The mayor, Bruno Marchand, is invited to “call his police department to order”.
“The report published in January clearly demonstrates that police repression just creates a debt for people who are vulnerable, marginalized and people who are very far from being criminals,” argues Ty Rousseau-Saucier, speaker at the Fixed Site of Landmarks
Dismantled camps
Quebec City has a zero tolerance policy for camps for people experiencing homelessness. During the summer period, camps set up at night are dismantled every morning, says Ty Rousseau-Saucier.
“We can regularly see city employees systematically disposing of survival equipment for homeless citizens who have not had the chance to repatriate their personal belongings quickly enough. All under the supervision of SPVQ constables.”
“The use of public space represents a great risk of hostile gestures for people who have no other options, and this is completely aberrant.”
— Ty Rousseau-Saucier, speaker at the Point de Repères fixed site
According to the speaker, this “repression” does not stop in the morning hours. “The presence of homeless people and their equipment in public places gives rise to a large number of upheld complaints, unjustified arrests, relocations and reports of infractions,” denounces Rousseau-Saucier.
More details to come.
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