Montreal police refer child to youth protection after incident near Notre-Dame encampment

Montreal police received a call around 7 p.m. Friday about a situation near the Notre-Dame encampment and referred a child to the Direction de la protection de la jeunesse (DPJ) after officers observed what they described as concerning elements.

The police have not confirmed the child's age, the exact location where the child was found, or the relationship between the child and the woman involved. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada issued a statement Wednesday afternoon calling the incident "heartbreaking and unacceptable." She said the city cannot wait indefinitely for the government to resolve the homelessness crisis. "If Quebec can't resolve this issue, we'll take care of the vacant lot. We can't keep waiting for the government to act when children end up living in a camp," she said, thanking residents and first responders who assisted the child.

Lawyers representing unhoused people camping on Notre-Dame Street have previously stated the encampment will not be relocated until 2026. The city has not disclosed how many children have been referred to youth protection from incidents near Montreal's homeless encampments in recent years.