Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave., in Toronto on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 after a stabbing incident. The president of a Canadian transit union wants to convene a national task force as violent attacks on public transit reach what he calls "crisis levels." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey
TORONTO – The president of a Canadian transit union wants to convene a national task force as violent attacks on public transit reach what he calls “crisis levels”.
Amalgamated Transit Union Canada national president John Di Nino says the task force should include all levels of government and transit agencies from across the country.
He says the task force must consider whether de-escalation training, harsher penalties, increased mental health funding, better housing supports, and greater police presence could help prevent violence on transit.
The call for a national transit safety task force comes after a string of violent attacks targeting workers and riders on the Toronto Transit Commission.
In the past week, police say two uniformed TTC workers were assaulted on their way to work, a woman was stabbed on a streetcar and a TTC driver was shot with a BB gun.
Di Nino says transit agencies need to provide transparent reporting of violent incidents to better inform recommendations about ways to improve safety.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 25, 2023.
