Public security
The security and protection of people and property
Police services
The management of correctional services under provincial jurisdiction
Firefighting services
Civil security
Agencies under the authority of the Minister of Public Security
The security and protection of people and property
The Government of Québec is responsible for ensuring the security and protection of all Quebecers and their property. Public security is a set of measures adopted by a community to protect its members against all manner of threats. This responsibility is in large part assumed by Ministère de la Sécurité publique and the organizations for which the minister is responsible, in cooperation with partners including municipal authorities.
The ministry’s activities fall under four main fields:
- Police services
- The management of correctional services under provincial jurisdiction
- Firefighting
- Civil security
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Police services
Police management
In Québec, each municipality is served by a local police force or the Sûreté du Québec. The mission of the police forces is to:
- Maintain peace, order, and public security
- Prevent or control crime and violations of statutes and municipal bylaws
- Find the perpetrators of crimes and offences
There are four types of police forces in Québec:
- The (SQ), a provincial police force headed by the Minister of Public Security
- (MPF), which are governed by municipal authorities. MPF organization and the minimum number of personnel are approved in advance by the Minister of Public Security based on police management plans submitted to the Minister
- , most of which are organized under tripartite agreements between a band council, the Government of Québec and the Government of Canada. Only MPFs and the SQ are discussed in this report
- The (RCMP), a national police service under the authority of
Municipal police forces must provide a certain level of service according to the population they serve or their geographic location, in accordance with the (Regulation respecting the police services that municipal police forces and the Sûreté du Québec must provide according to their level of jurisdiction). The SQ plays a complementary role, providing a higher level of services than those provided by MPFs.
Police affairs and state security
The ministry ensures that all Quebecers enjoy police protection, enforces statutes under police jurisdiction, promotes the coordination of police efforts and prevention, ensures cohesion and unity in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, advises municipal authorities on the organization and management of their police forces, and carries out inspections of those police forces. Lastly, the ministry ensures the protection of government ministers and the security of certain government buildings.
The ministry takes a community approach to police matters, working closely and in harmony with police officers and residents.
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The management of correctional services under provincial jurisdiction
The incarceration of offenders and their social reintegration
The ministry is also responsible for correctional services under provincial jurisdiction. As a result, and in order to help provide a safe living environment for all residents, Direction générale des services correctionnels (DGSC) works with institutions and agencies that share its mission to help inform the courts by providing evaluations on triable offenses. It also promotes the social integration of offenders in the community or in detention centers.
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Firefighting services
Fires continue to claim numerous victims every year, not to mention millions of dollars in lost property. To fight this scourge, the ministry focuses on prevention. Every year, it carries out awareness raising and education activities in concert with its municipal partners who are on the front line in fire prevention and firefighting. These activities are aimed at encouraging the public to adopt preventative habits and behavior. In its fight against fires, the ministry relies on trained, professional firefighters, shared resources between the municipalities, and the organization of effective firefighting services. However, municipal authorities are responsible for deciding whether to create and maintain firefighting services in their respective areas.
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Civil security
In Québec, municipalities have primary responsibility for civil security in their respective areas. However, disasters sometimes occur on a scale beyond a municipality’s capacity to intervene, such as when a catastrophe threatens lives and causes major property damage. To prevent disasters (or at least minimize their impact), the ministry seeks to encourage municipalities to plan proper emergency measures in a spirit of cooperation. When disaster strikes, the ministry coordinates the actions of other Québec ministries and government agencies through the OSCQ (Organisation de la sécurité civile du Québec), assists municipalities until things return to normal, and in some cases provides financial assistance to those who have suffered property damage.
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Agencies under the authority of the Minister of Public Security
Seven autonomous agencies operate under the minister, who ensures the cohesion of their efforts, mainly by providing them with annual guidelines.
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