CANADA VIBES NEWSROOM · MORNING EDITION
Sunday, July 19, 2026 · 8:00 AM ET

The Quebec government has announced a $2-million investment to counter rising organized crime affecting Indigenous communities, with particular focus on Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the Côte-Nord, Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal’s South Shore, and the Gaspé Peninsula.

The deputy premier said criminal activity in these communities has risen markedly since the fall of 2025. The funding, allocated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, is meant to strengthen prevention, police collaboration and support for community organizations active in these territories.

The measure comes as several of the targeted regions already grapple with challenges tied to remoteness and limited specialized policing resources. Community workers in the Côte-Nord and Abitibi regions have for months called on Quebec for greater support to counter trafficking and recruitment linked to organized crime in reserves and surrounding municipalities.

The government says the funds will be distributed in collaboration with Indigenous police forces and the Ministry of Public Security, with results to be tracked over the coming year.

What to watch

• The regional breakdown of funding across the five targeted zones.
• Reaction from Indigenous police forces and local community organizations.
• A possible government progress report before the end of the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Source: La Presse.