MONTREAL – The colourful and hard-to-miss camouflage pants worn by Montreal police officers will remain their uniform of choice, at least for a few months longer.
The Quebec government is putting off plans to pass legislation this fall that would force police officers to wear their full uniforms.
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Speculation is rife the Liberals don’t want to ruffle contract negotiations with the public sector and the Sûreté du Québec.
Public Security minister Lise Theriault said the government agenda is packed this session with other priorities.
The delay is a turnaround for the Liberals.
Premier Philippe Couillard had insisted several months ago he would introduce measures this fall.
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The commitment came after outrage erupted over the State funeral of former Premier Jacques Parizeau in June.
The public and politicians alike rebuked some police officers for wearing red baseball caps and camo pants as a lack of respect at a sombre event.
At the time, an exasperated Mayor Denis Coderre came out swinging, demanding the government pass a law forcing police to wear their full uniforms.
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Police have shunned their uniforms since last year as a form of protest over pension plan reforms passed by the government.
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They’re contesting legislation that rolls back pension plans for municipal employees.
A spokesman for the Montreal Police Brotherhood, Martin Desrochers, wouldn’t comment on the government shelving its plans.
He did say, though, that any discussions with Quebec are going nowhere.
“All I will say is the negotiations are not very active,” he said.
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