149 $ fine for having filmed a municipal council

Photo courtesy
Francisco Moreno was received on Tuesday by the mail a ticket for having filmed a session of the municipal council of Chambly. He claims to have done in stealth without prejudice to the discussions.

Matthew Payen

Thursday, 22-feb-2018 01:00

UPDATE
Thursday, 22-feb-2018 01:00

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A citizen had the bad surprise of receiving a mailed ticket of $ 149 to have filmed a session of the municipal council of Chambly.

“I don’t know how they got my name and my address because nobody told me anything on the day of the council,” says Francisco Moreno.

Yet, it was received on Tuesday a fine stating that it is ” prohibited during sessions of the council to make the capture of images by means of any system of registration “.

Francisco Moreno don’t live in Chambly, but he went there on the 16th of January at the invitation of the citizens of the corner opposed to the regulation of anti-camera adopted in December.

A reputation

Mr. Moreno was conducted successfully last year in the fight against a similar regulation in the borough of LaSalle, where he now resides.

“I grumbled about the arrogance of Manon Barbe [the mayor of LaSalle], but this is nothing compared to the mayor of Chambly,” said the citizen, who will be contesting the fine.

Same goes for the political opponent to the mayor Denis Lavoie, Patrick Dufresne.

“In fact, the mayor does not want the people to see his patronising attitude,” he says.

Mr. Dufresne also denounces the presence of two police officers, now every board. “Mr. Lavoie believes that he is in a court of justice where one does not have the right to film, then as a municipal council must be accessible to the public “, says he.

Notice of the ministry

In a letter dated July, the complaints commissioner of the department of municipal Affairs had rebuked the borough of LaSalle. It was pointed out that the regulation prohibiting filming “does not seem to comply” with the Law on cities and towns.

A notice that does not convince the mayor Lavoie. “As long as nothing is signed by a judge, this is not mandatory,” he says.

According to him, it is necessary to respect the choice of the people who just re-elected : “During my door-to-door campaign, nobody has mentioned this need to film. “

Aware of the contravention, the professional Federation of Quebec journalists was keen to point out yesterday that ” the prohibition [of filming] to hinder the freedom of the press and the public’s right to information.”

For his part, the member of parliament for Chambly, Jean-François Roberge, did not wish to speak so as not to ” interfere in a debate that is a matter of municipal self-government “.