Report into Montreal police spying scandal 'a whitewash,' Opposition says

The Opposition at city hall is slamming a City of Montreal report that found police did nothing wrong when they obtained warrants to put four journalists under surveillance.

The city's public security commission said in the report that it's "reassured" and "satisfied" with the conduct of the Montreal police department.

The report lays out no official recommendations for ensuring the freedom of the press. It does, however, suggest it would be helpful to establish a definition for "journalist."

The commission was mandated by city council to look into the matter.

Alex Norris, a Projet Montréal councillor and a former journalist, says the commission didn't go far enough in its investigation.

Journalists, outside experts not consulted

Norris, who also sits on the commission, said members only met three times behind closed doors and only spoke to police. Experts and journalists weren't consulted.

"We heard from one source: senior commanders of the SPVM itself," he said.

"This report is essentially a whitewash."

Norris was the only dissenting voice on the commission. The report will be presented to city council this afternoon.

Four journalists, Patrick Lagacé, Félix Séguin, Monic Néron and Fabrice de Pierrebourg, were put under surveillance by Montreal police as part of an effort to control leaks within the service.

Coderre stands by police chief

Coderre has stood steadfastly by police Chief Philippe Pichet throughout the scandal, which simmered throughout the fall.

The mayor himself became involved after he admitted that he had telephoned then-police chief Marc Parent in 2014 to talk about Lagacé, just before police obtained search warrants to look at Lagacé's cell phone logs.

But Coderre insisted he did not ask Parent to investigate the La Presse columnist.

Last month, the Quebec government called an inquiry of its own into police surveillance by both Montreal and Quebec provincial police.

Coderre had earlier called another investigation to be headed by the city's inspector general. But he scrapped that idea after the province announced plans for an inquiry.

• Surveillance a 'serious attack on freedom of the press in Canada'