The Supreme Court of Canada is hearing arguments on a Quebec case with far-reaching implications for policing across Canada. The case was brought by Montrealer Joseph-Christopher Luamba, a Black man who was randomly stopped nearly a dozen times in 18 months without reason.
In 2022, Quebec Superior Court Judge Michel Yergeau struck down Article 636 of Quebec's Highway Safety Code, which allows random stops, citing violations of Charter rights (Articles 7 and 9). The Quebec Court of Appeal in 2024 unanimously upheld the Superior Court's decision.
Courts found random stops disproportionately targeted Black drivers. The 2022 ruling stated racial profiling is a 'reality that weighs heavily on Black communities.' Luamba stated: 'Why was I stopped? I followed the rules. I didn't commit any infractions.'
Random stops in Quebec have been suspended since April 2025. A Supreme Court ruling could either validate Quebec's authority to resume these stops or reinforce a ban, affecting legal frameworks in other provinces that rely on the 1990 R. v. Ladouceur precedent.
The case demonstrates how lower courts can successfully challenge long-standing practices that disproportionately harm marginalized communities, even when those practices have been previously upheld by higher courts.