MONTREAL – Montreal’s police chief is vowing there will be a full investigation into a rowdy pension plan protest that saw some municipal employees storm city hall.
Several hundred workers demonstrated outside the building before about 250 entered as a council meeting was set to resume on Monday evening.
READ MORE: Unions storm Montreal city hall in pension protest
At a news conference, Marc Parent was asked to comment on questionable behaviour by some of his police officers during Monday night’s pension reform protest at city hall.
Cops were caught on camera with their arms crossed, doing very little while protesters created anarchy.
They tossed papers in the air and some city councillors were allegedly assaulted.
“Some people were clearly breaking the law and police did nothing,” said Peter McQueen, a councillor for NDG.
“I’m afraid that’s not right.”
READ MORE: City workers ‘ready for war’ over proposed pension reform bill
Police chief Marc Parent told a news conference he was disappointed by the turn of events, which has raised questions about the force’s ability to do its job.
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A special unit of police officers will analyze security footage and will look into possible criminal charges.
Parent says union leaders may face counts of inciting violence and officers could face disciplinary action.
“I think I still have the trust of the citizens and of people around me,” he said.
Municipal employees have been protesting throughout the summer over a provincial government plan to overhaul municipal pensions.
Their actions have ratcheted up in recent days ahead of the beginning of legislature hearings on Bill 3 on Wednesday.
Police chief Parent promises tougher security at city hall. He hints an announcement is imminent.
READ MORE: Quebec pension tensions on the rise
Mayor Denis Coderre denounced the protest as intimidation and bullying tactics and Parent added that police will investigate allegations that protesters threatened some city councillors.
*with files from The Canadian Press
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