The legacy of Quebec’s controversial pandemic curfew

Five years after the first reported COVID-19 case in Quebec, the province’s curfew remains a contentious issue. More than half of the fines imposed for curfew violations are unpaid, legal battles are ongoing, and health experts continue to debate the effectiveness of the measure.

Quebec was the only province in Canada to implement a curfew during the pandemic, with Premier François Legault’s government imposing the measure on two separate occasions. The curfew, which restricted citizens from leaving their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., was initially intended to last for four weeks but ended up being in place for nearly five months from January 9, 2021, to May 28, 2021. A second curfew was enforced from New Year’s Eve 2021 to January 17, 2022, with fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 for non-compliance.

Dr. Horacio Arruda, who served as the province’s director of public health during the curfews, defended the measure as necessary to alleviate the strain on the healthcare system and reduce the spread of the virus. However, concerns have been raised about the curfew’s impact on civil liberties and its overall effectiveness.

Some experts argue that the curfew did help limit the mobility of individuals and contain the spread of the virus. A study conducted in Hamburg, Germany, found that nighttime curfews were more effective than international travel restrictions but less effective than stay-at-home orders. Despite these potential benefits, there were also unintended consequences on mental health and social well-being.

Roxanne Borgès Da Silva, a public health professor at Université de Montréal, acknowledged the positive effects of curfews in reducing transmission but highlighted the negative impact on social life and mental health. She emphasized the difficult trade-offs faced by governments when implementing such measures.

In addition to the ongoing debate over the curfew’s effectiveness, the measure is facing legal challenges in the courts. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is appealing a provincial court decision that upheld the imposition of the curfew. The lawsuit was filed after a protester was ticketed for violating the curfew in Amos, Quebec, with the court ruling that the violations were justified in the context of public health.

Furthermore, more than half of the fines issued for pandemic-related infractions, including curfew violations, remain unpaid. Out of $67.9 million in fines, less than half have been paid, with some cases still pending in court. Despite a high conviction rate, concerns have been raised about the hasty implementation of the law and its impact on vulnerable populations.

As Quebec reflects on the legacy of the curfew five years after its implementation, questions persist about its effectiveness, impact on civil liberties, and long-term consequences. The debate surrounding the curfew serves as a reminder of the complex challenges faced by governments in managing public health crises while balancing individual rights and societal well-being.