The Sûreté du Québec’s already changing its practices

Hugo Duchaine

Thursday, December 14, 2017 23:06

UPDATE
Thursday, December 14, 2017 23:06

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The Sûreté du Québec said they have already taken steps to ensure the protection of journalistic sources, after the scandal of the past year.

“It takes the express permission of the director-general to investigate or make a request for a court order which applies to a member of the media,” says the inspector Guy Lapointe.

The SQ contact also the media targeted during an investigation. The report Chamberland refers in particular to how the search was conducted last year by the SQ in the computer of the journalist of the Newspaper Michael Nguyen has been the least intrusive possible.

The elected officials of Montréal would like the recommendation to adopt a law to ensure the independence between the police and the politicians to be put in place quickly.

“Be very careful “

“Even without new provincial legislation, we will take good care not to interfere in the police affairs. “said the president of the Commission of public safety Alex Norris.

“The report Chamberland points out that he must be very careful, that perception is just as important as the reality “, said Lionel Perez, the leader of the opposition.

The police of Montreal and Laval had not wanted to comment on the report, wishing to take the time to read it.

In the wake of the scandal, the government in Ottawa unanimously adopted two months ago a draft law on the protection of journalistic sources.

It will allow journalists not to disclose any information that could identify a source, and amend the criminal Code to allow only to a judge of the superior Court or the Court of Quebec to issue mandates in the area of wiretapping and electronic surveillance.

– With the collaboration of Sarah Daoust-Braun, QMI Agency