Montréal Conversion Therapy Ban: Rules for Health Providers

Civil Rights and Equity Quebec 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of Quebec

This guide explains how Montréal, Quebec addresses conversion therapy for health providers, what reporting and professional duties may apply, and where to find official municipal and provincial resources. It summarizes enforcement pathways, likely sanctions, practical steps to report or comply, and patient-protection obligations that providers should consider when working in Montréal.

Penalties & Enforcement

Montréal does not publish a citywide municipal bylaw text explicitly setting separate municipal fines for conversion therapy on a single consolidated page; enforcement for prohibited practices may involve provincial regulators, professional colleges, or criminal law where federal offences apply. Specific municipal fine amounts or a dedicated bylaw section are not specified on the City of Montréal pages listed in Resources below.

Enforcement may involve multiple authorities depending on whether the conduct is criminal, professional, or municipal.
  • Fines: not specified on the City of Montréal resource pages; provincial or federal penalties may apply depending on the instrument.
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing offence ranges are not specified on the cited municipal pages; referral to professional discipline or criminal prosecution is possible.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: professional discipline, orders to cease practice, licence suspension or revocation, and court injunctive relief may apply depending on the enforcing body.
  • Enforcers and complaint pathways: matters may be handled by professional regulatory colleges (for regulated health professions), provincial human-rights or consumer-protection bodies, and police for potential criminal offences.
  • Appeals and review: appeal routes depend on the issuing authority (administrative review before the college or tribunals, judicial review in courts); time limits are set by the specific instrument and are not specified on the City of Montréal pages listed below.
  • Defences and discretion: common administrative defences include absence of jurisdiction, consent where lawful, or compliance with professional standards; specific statutory defences are not specified on municipal pages.

Common violations for health providers often include:

  • Providing or advertising conversion therapy services on clinic premises or online.
  • Failing to report suspected coercive practices affecting vulnerable patients.
  • Professional conduct breaches that trigger college discipline.

Applications & Forms

No dedicated municipal application or permit for conversion-therapy activities is published on the City of Montréal pages; reporting pathways and complaint forms are typically provided by professional colleges, police services, or provincial human-rights bodies. Check the Resources section below for official complaint pages for each authority.

If unsure which body has jurisdiction, document facts and contact your professional college first.

Reporting Obligations and Practical Steps for Providers

Health providers in Montréal should follow these practical steps when they suspect a patient is being subjected to conversion therapy or related coercive practices.

  • Document: record dates, participants, informed consent details, and any coercion indicators in the clinical record.
  • Report: use the relevant professional college complaint form or contact police if you suspect criminal conduct or imminent risk.
  • Notify employer or clinic administration where mandated by workplace policy.
  • Act promptly: preserve records and follow mandatory reporting deadlines imposed by the relevant regulatory body, if any.
Preserve patient privacy while following mandatory reporting duties and local policies.

How-To

  1. Gather clinical notes and evidence that describe the suspected conversion therapy practice.
  2. Contact the patient’s professional college or licensing board to learn complaint procedures and forms.
  3. Report to police if there is immediate danger or if the conduct appears criminal; otherwise submit an administrative complaint to the appropriate body.
  4. Follow up with the patient to ensure safety and access to appropriate supports and referrals.
Timely documentation and reporting improve protection for patients and strengthen any subsequent enforcement action.

FAQ

Does Montréal have a municipal bylaw that specifically fines conversion therapy?
No single municipal fine schedule for conversion therapy is published on City of Montréal pages; enforcement often relies on professional regulation or criminal law.
Which authority should a health provider contact first?
Start with the relevant professional college for your regulated profession; contact police if there is immediate risk or suspected criminal conduct.
Can a private counsellor operate conversion therapy in Montréal?
Where the counsellor is unregulated, enforcement options may be limited to consumer protection, criminal law if offences apply, or civil remedies; consult the Resources below to identify applicable complaint channels.

Key Takeaways

  • Montréal providers must check professional-college obligations and provincial/federal law when encountering conversion-therapy practices.
  • Document, report, and refer: clear records and prompt reporting are essential to enforcement and patient safety.
  • Use official complaint channels listed in Resources; municipal pages do not list separate fine schedules for conversion therapy.

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