The Canadian Press
Quebec plans to broaden the powers of its police watchdog agency to include all alleged offences committed by officers as part of an omnibus bill tabled today.
Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault presented Bill 18, wide-ranging legislation aimed at improving oversight of police work and restoring public confidence.
The bill includes 40 of the 138 recommendations from an advisory committee on police tabled last May.
One major element of the bill would involve transferring all investigations involving police officers to the Bureau des enquetes independantes, which currently investigates cases where civilians are killed or injured during police operations as well as sexual assault allegations.
The bill also includes provisions allowing the Public Security Department to compel police forces to follow its instructions, for example if the province wanted to outlaw random police street checks of citizens.
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