Proposed personal hygiene policy at Montreal libraries raises eyebrows
CTV
A new policy about personal hygiene at a public library in Montreal is raising a lot of eyebrows. Beginning in the New Year, if someone's hygiene is not up to standard, they might be asked to leave.
A new policy about personal hygiene at a public library in Montreal is raising a lot of eyebrows.
Beginning in the New Year, if someone's hygiene is not up to standard, they might be asked to leave.
People who work with the homeless population are not pleased with the new changes to the library policy, which have to be adopted by the borough councils before they can be enforced.
The city says it's going to review the wording being used to make sure it's inclusive and doesn't discriminate.
According to the changes tabled at the last Ville-Marie borough council meeting, a person would not be allowed to sleep in the library and employees would have the right to ask someone to leave if their personal hygiene inconveniences visitors or staff.
They could also be subject to fines up to $1,000 for a first offence.
James Hughes, President and CEO of the Old Brewery Mission, worries these kinds of rules are really just meant to target the homeless.