Repression, punitive and not based on sound science — these are some of the descriptions used towards the provincial governments handling of the pandemic.

Some are skeptical of how the curfew has limited the spread of COVID-19, including Simon Bacon, researcher for iCare. iCare stands for international covid-19 awareness and responses evaluation study, a study based at the Montreal Behavioural Medical Centre, focused on behaviours, attitudes, concerns, impacts and responses to COVID-19 public health policies.

Others voice their concern on how the provincial and municipal governments' punitive measures have violated human rights and harmed marginalized communities, including Catherine Descoteaux, coordinator of La ligue des droits et libertés, Jean-Sébastien Fallu, Ph.D., Associate professor, School of Psychoeducation, Université de Montréal, Regular researcher at the Centre de recherche en santé publique and Émilie Roberge, in charge of the community consultation overdose prevention at TOMS, table des organismes communautaires montrealaise de lutte contre le sida, an organization working in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.

With Montreal’s municipal government increasing the police budget, the second largest increase in history by an extra $45 million in 2022, have punitive measures worked?

Quebec was listed as the second most punitive province in Quebec. Montreal’s government has been called out for their heavy reliance on police to enforce social distancing, with the largest police force in Canada per capita.

In this episode of Local 514, we look at punitive measures used during the pandemic and how it affects marginalized communities, as well as the calls to prioritize harm reduction measures to benefit all.

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