LAKAY welcomes the Human Rights Tribunal's decision against racial profiling in Terrebonne
Repentigny, May 14, 2025 – LAKAY welcomes the decision rendered by the Human Rights Tribunal in the case between Mr. Ted Michel and the Terrebonne City Police Service (SPVT). The judgment, which recognizes that Mr. Michel was unjustly stopped and penalized because of the colour of his skin, marks a significant step in the fight against racial profiling in Quebec.
The facts are troubling: Mr. Michel, a 42-year-old Black man, was pulled over by two police officers for no infraction. His only fault, according to the court, was making eye contact with the officers. Although he was wearing his seatbelt and not using his cell phone while driving, he still received tickets totaling 1002 $. The judge described the officers' motives as "implausible" and concluded that their intervention was based on racial prejudice.
The Tribunal not only ordered the payment of 15,000 $ in damages to Mr. Michel, but also imposed concrete measures to curb racial profiling in police practices, including mandatory training provided by a racial profiling expert, as well as the systematic collection of data on the perceived racial affiliation of people intercepted by the SPVT.
«This decision validates what racialized communities have been denouncing for years: racial profiling is a systemic reality in Quebec. The case of Mr. Michel – stopped simply because he held the police officers» gaze – is a disturbing demonstration of this. The Court recognized that if Mr. Michel had been white, the police officers would not have stopped him,” emphasizes Pierre Richard Thomas, director of LAKAY.
For several years, LAKAY has been supporting victims of racial profiling, systemic discrimination, and abuse of authority in the Lanaudière region. Our services include support with the Human Rights Commission, assistance during police ethics hearings, and human and legal support in cases involving the Youth Protection Services (DPJ) or other agencies. Mr. Michel's case demonstrates once again the necessity of these services.
LAKAY calls on all police forces in Quebec to learn from this ruling. It is time to move from words to action: every citizen, regardless of their origin, has the right to respect for their dignity and to true equality before the law.
We commend Mr. Michel's courage in choosing to denounce this injustice and encourage all victims of racial profiling to speak out. This decision sends a clear message: racial profiling has no place in our institutions.