After much debate and backlash, the province announced new regulations that would effectively ban carding come the New Year. But in the meantime, a Hamilton city councillor says arbitrary street checks are still taking place, and he claims he was targeted during a “dehumanizing” experience.

Matthew Green, who became Hamilton’s first black councillor in 2014, says he was standing at a bus stop when two Hamilton police cruisers pulled up and an officer began questioning him.

For those of you who think police carding is over. I was just arbitrarily stopped/questioned by @HamiltonPolice as a City Clr in my own city — Matthew Green (@MGreenWard3) April 26, 2016

Green says he’s been carded in the past, but not since being elected.

The troubling incidents have helped him gain perspective on the contentious issue.

“The truth is, this experience has been happening thousands of times throughout Ontario — it criminalizes innocent people, dehumanizing them and making them question their own place in their community,” he said in a release. “Although this is not the first time this has happened to me, this is the first time it has happened since being elected in 2014.”

The bus stop where @MGreenWard3 says he was questioned by @HamiltonPolice in his own city on Tuesday. @CityNews pic.twitter.com/cP6OvL1mzq — Adrian Ghobrial (@CityAdrian) April 27, 2016

Green filed a formal complaint to Hamilton Police Service on Wednesday (below) and he advises any other citizen who has been arbitrarily stopped and questioned to do the same.

“When residents call me to ask my advice on incidents revolving around racism or policing, I give them the same advice: officially file a complaint because not doing so allows people to continue to believe or suggest it doesn’t happen.”

In his complaint he wrote: “This questioning was both arbitrary and agitating in nature and constitutes both harassment and intimidation as I was not under any investigation nor related to any criminal activity or events in the area.”

Hamilton Police Service Complaint-Redacted Version-April 2016

Hamilton mayor Fred Eisenberger released a statement on Wednesday denouncing carding in general, but saying he couldn’t comment specifically on Green’s case.

“My position on carding in general is well-known: it is indiscriminate, targeted, street checks, without the suspicion of a crime. As far as I’m concerned this must not be practiced and it is proper that it be banned,” he said. “As this is a formal complaint, and as I am both mayor and a member of the Police Services Board, it would not be proper to comment while the matter is being investigated.”

Opponents of carding argue it’s racist and targets minorities in marginalized communities, while proponents call it an important policing tool that can help curb violent crime.

In late March, Ontario’s community safety and correctional services minister, Yasir Naqvi, outlined the new regulations banning the practice.

​”Police officers cannot collect your information based on the way you look or the neighbourhood you live in,” Naqvi said.

The new regulations come into effect on January 1, 2017.

A Hamilton Police Service spokesperson told CityNews the force couldn’t comment on the councillor’s allegations because the incident is now under review.

“We encourage people to use the … complaint process so that there can be an investigation. It is also important to know that we cannot provide any comment in order to ensure the integrity of that process.”

You can file a complaint to Hamilton Police here.

In Toronto, Police Association president Mike McCormack has been a vocal defender of carding, saying a recent rash of shootings in the city can be attributed to a scaling back of street checks.

“We had a broad public policy change around street checks and I believe that that is having an impact now on the amount of violence and people carrying firearms,” he said. “Until we can get out there and figure out how we can get the intelligence that we need … I think (the violence) will continue.”

Toronto Police Service (TPS) says it stopped carding on January 1, 2015.

TPS spokesperson Meaghan Gray said the “Service is working on amending its procedure to coincide with the government’s regulations.”