No more moonlighting for Quebec’s senior police officers?

If Quebec’s public security minister gets his way, senior police officers across Quebec will be prohibited from holding a second job. It’s a move the minister is taking to avoid incidents like last winter’s Highway 13 fiasco.

“I think and the government thinks that it’s better to enforce stricter rules,” public security minister Martin Coiteux said. “We don’t want to have any other cases like this one.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think and the government thinks that it's better to enforce stricter rules," public security minister Martin Coiteux said. "We don't want to have any other cases like this one."

Hundreds of motorists were stranded for hours on Highway 13 last March, stuck in a massive snow storm. A report later showed the Sûreté du Québec’s (SQ) captain responsible for the highway was at a notary’s office doing his other job as a real estate agent and therefore unable to respond to the crisis.

Stranded on Highway 13: Report blames ‘system,’ not individuals for weak response to Quebec storm

Now, the plan is to ban senior police officers or managers from holding a second job.

“There are a number of circumstances in which it can compromise the capacity of officials especially in police services to do the important work that they have to do,” Coiteux said. “It’s a question of public security.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There are a number of circumstances in which it can compromise the capacity of officials especially in police services to do the important work that they have to do," Coiteux said. "It's a question of public security."

The question of moonlighting cops came up in Quebec City at hearings on Bill 133, that would, among other things, force police officers to wear their full uniforms.

The SQ’s chief inspector testified at the hearings on Wednesday, insisting his police force cracked down on moonlighting in the wake of the Highway 13 snowstorm.

“The director general took an immediate position after realizing that it could cause problems,” the SQ’s Patrick Bélanger said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The director general took an immediate position after realizing that it could cause problems," the SQ's Patrick Bélanger said.

There are already clear-cut rules in place surrounding second jobs in the SQ’s code of ethics.

All officers are already forced to disclose their outside employment.

READ MORE: Massive pile-up on Highway 13 strands hundreds of drivers overnight

Quebec is hoping to ban moonlighting altogether unless officers get special permission from their bosses before taking on another job.

“I don’t think it’s a widespread problem but one may be one too many,” Coiteux said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I don't think it's a widespread problem but one may be one too many," Coiteux said.

The new rules would apply to all Quebec police forces including Montreal’s SPVM.

But clearly, Montreal’s mayor is not in the loop.

“Is it only for the high management is it for the policeman is it for the police women?” Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre asked.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Is it only for the high management is it for the policeman is it for the police women?" Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre asked.

The new moonlighting ban would apply to senior officers only, provided the bill becomes law.