Quebec to invest $250 million to hire more police officers in Montreal and reduce gun violence

The Quebec government has announced that it will spend $250 million over the next five years to help Montreal hire more police and fight gun violence.

Public Safety Minister Geneviève Guilbault says the money will allow the city to hire up to 225 additional officers.

The City of Montreal will match the amount, bringing the maximum total number of new officers to 450.

In addition to hiring police officers, Guilbault says the city and province will also share the cost of hiring 100 other social workers who can help with mental health calls.

Montreal has faced a string of high-profile shootings, including the daytime killing of two men in less than an hour earlier this week.

The city’s police union has pushed Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante to hire more officers, saying the force lacks the manpower it needs to properly tackle crime.

Plante, for her part, said any accusation that she does not support the city’s police force is false.

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