A troubling incident involving Montreal police has sparked renewed concerns about racial profiling after officers misidentified a medical emergency as impaired driving. Last Tuesday evening, 58-year-old Marie-Claude Bourgault, a Black woman and respected community health worker, was experiencing stroke symptoms while driving home from her evening shift when police pulled her over near Parc Avenue.
According to witnesses and family members, Bourgault was exhibiting clear signs of a medical emergency – slurred speech, facial drooping, and disorientation – symptoms police officers mistakenly attributed to intoxication. Rather than immediately calling for medical assistance, officers conducted a field sobriety test which Bourgault naturally failed due to her condition.
“They kept asking her if she’d been drinking, ignoring her attempts to explain something was wrong,” said Jean-Philippe Bourgault, her son who arrived at the scene after receiving a concerning call from his mother moments before she was stopped. “It was nearly 45 minutes before someone finally called an ambulance.”
Medical professionals at the Montreal General Hospital confirmed Bourgault was experiencing an ischemic stroke, where time-sensitive treatment is crucial. Dr. Emmanuelle Tremblay, neurologist at the hospital, while not commenting specifically on this case, emphasized that “the first 60-90 minutes following stroke symptoms are critical for effective intervention and preventing permanent damage.”
This incident follows a disturbing pattern documented in a recent independent review commissioned by the City of Montreal, which found Black citizens were 4.2 times more likely to be stopped by police than white residents. The report, published by researchers from McGill University’s Centre for Research on Race Relations, examined over 12,000 police interventions between 2019-2022.
Fo Niemi, executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), expressed frustration over the continuing problem. “We’ve seen promise after promise of better training and awareness, yet these incidents persist. When medical emergencies are criminalized based on racial assumptions, we’re looking at a systemic failure that can literally cost lives.”
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) issued a brief statement acknowledging an investigation has been launched. “We take all allegations of bias seriously and are reviewing officer conduct in this incident,” said SPVM spokesperson Lieutenant Sandrine Lamarche. “Our officers receive training on recognizing medical emergencies, and we’re examining why protocols weren’t followed in this case.”
Mayor Valérie Plante addressed the incident during yesterday’s press conference, calling it “deeply concerning” and promising a thorough review. “Every Montrealer deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness by our police service. When that doesn’t happen, we need accountability and concrete changes.”
Bourgault is currently recovering at home after three days in hospital. Her family has filed a formal complaint with Quebec’s Police Ethics Commissioner and is considering further legal action.
Community health advocates point out that this case highlights the intersectionality of race and health inequities. “Black Montrealers face a double burden,” explains Dr. Marlène Jean-Baptiste of the Quebec Black Medical Association. “Not only are there documented disparities in healthcare outcomes, but the added stress of potential racial profiling during medical emergencies compounds these issues.”
The Montreal police service implemented mandatory implicit bias training in 2020 following several high-profile incidents and the damning independent review. However, critics argue the four-hour training module is insufficient and lacks proper evaluation mechanisms.
As this story continues to develop, it serves as a stark reminder that despite years of dialogue and promises of reform, Montreal’s struggle with systemic racism within its institutions remains an urgent issue requiring more than superficial solutions.
For Bourgault and her family, the consequences of those systemic failures almost proved fatal. “I keep thinking about what might have happened if my son hadn’t arrived,” Bourgault told LCN in a brief interview from her home. “Would they have eventually recognized I needed medical help, or would I have ended up in a cell instead of a hospital? These are questions no one should have to ask in 2025.”
