In Canada, police in Quebec have admitted they used undercover police officers disguised as demonstrators during the recent protests against the North American leaders summit in Montebello Quebec. Police were forced to make the admission after a video posted on YouTube showed three masked men apparently trying to provoke the crowd and instigate violence. One of the masked men was carrying a rock. The masked men were caught on tape near a line of riot police during a nonviolent protest led by union workers. Shortly after one of the union leaders accused the masked men of being police officers and provocateurs, the men pushed their way into a line of riot police. While the riot police handcuffed them, protesters noticed the men were wearing the identical boots as the riot police officers. On Tuesday, union leader David Coles first accused the masked men of being undercover police officers.

David Coles, union leader: “We’ve got some peaceful protesters down there we’ve got to protect.”

Unidentified woman: “They were police provocateurs. Not those people. They’re back in there. They crossed back into the police line.”

David Coles: “They’re trying to create a riot so that they can suck us all in to get beat up.”

Unidentified man: “And how do you know it’s a [inaudible]” —

David Coles: “He stopped us. I looked him in his eye and said, ’You’re a cop, aren’t ya?’ And his eyes just glazed right up. And I tried to take his mask off. We took it off. We got pictures. They’re provocateurs!”

The police in Quebec defended their actions, saying the undercover officers were not acting as instigators and did not commit any criminal acts.