Quebec bar to hold summit ahead of election on erosion of trust in institutions

QUÉBEC — Warning about the public’s growing skepticism toward institutions, Quebec’s bar association says it will hold a summit on the rule of law ahead of October’s provincial election.

The summit, described as the first of its kind in Quebec, is expected to bring together about 750 participants from the legal, political, business, academic and community sectors to Montreal on Sept. 8-9. The bar says the rule of law refers to a system in which laws are applied equally, governments are bound by legal limits and courts can operate independently from political influence.

Marcel-Olivier Nadeau, president of the Quebec bar association, said political parties will be invited to debate ways to strengthen trust in government, courts and the media.

“We want justice to be part of the election campaign conversation,” he said in an interview. “It’s very good to talk about health care and education, but it’s also fundamental to talk about justice.”

The issue of public trust has received renewed attention in recent days after Montreal police leadership dismantled a night patrol unit in the borough of Montréal-Nord, reassigned 14 officers, and suspended two others over allegations of discriminatory and racist behaviour toward citizens.

Samantha Velandia, a spokesperson for Montreal’s police, says the force recognizes that the allegations may have shaken the public’s trust in the police. ”We know that trust cannot be restored with a single action. It must be rebuilt and maintained,” she said in a statement.

The bar commissioned an online Léger poll between May 22-24 among 1,002 Quebecers, which found that 43 per cent said their trust in public institutions has declined in recent years. It also found that 45 per cent of respondents do not trust the Quebec government and 67 per cent expressed distrust toward political parties.

“The data require us to stop and pay attention,” Nadeau said in a statement. “When confidence in institutions erodes, the very balance of our democracy is at stake.”

The Quebec bar association declined to comment on Wednesday about the recent allegations of racist behaviour within the Montreal police.

Nadeau said he hopes participants at the summit will help draft a declaration on the rule of law and help create an index that would measure the health of the rule of law in Quebec and compare it with other jurisdictions.

“The rule of law and institutions are fragile,” he said. ”Every action can quickly lead to setbacks.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2026.

Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press