The city of Montreal is issuing buttons to municipal personnel promoting its upcoming 375th anniversary, but a growing number of groups have no intention of wearing them.
Montreal firefighters are joining the police department in boycotting the buttons as the long-standing labour dispute doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon.
According to a TVA report, the Police Brotherhood has issued a statement to its members, asking them to mail back any buttons they receive, given the current state of negotiations.
The Montreal Firefighters Association says it is furious over continued budget cuts, which it says includes the closure of five fire stations next year after 11 were shut down in 2016. Association president Ronald Martin says they too plan to return the buttons to Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, likening the mayor's campaign to a "cold shower" under the circumstances concerning the cuts.