Montreal’s transit authorities and the city’s recently elected mayor are addressing rising safety concerns on the bus and Metro systems in response to an increase in transit-related assaults across major Canadian cities. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada acknowledged the broader safety issues affecting public perception in the city.
According to a recent analysis by CBC News, reported assaults on transit in several large Canadian cities, including Montreal, doubled between 2016 and 2024. Although violent crime rates peaked in 2023 in cities like Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, there was a slight decrease in 2024. However, these rates still remain significantly higher than a decade ago.
During a press briefing, Mayor Martinez Ferrada emphasized the importance of addressing the sentiment of insecurity among residents. She highlighted the commitment to increase the presence of constables in the Metro as part of the solution but stressed the need to tackle broader issues such as homelessness and drug crises in the city.
The spokesperson for Montreal’s public transit authority, Laurence Houde-Roy, noted the challenges faced by the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) due to the social context worsened by the pandemic. This has led to increased incidents of alcohol and drug use, loitering, misconduct, and vandalism in transit facilities, affecting both customer safety and operations.
To combat these issues, the STM reinstated a policy on June 18 requiring individuals to keep moving in stations, providing constables with a tool to maintain order and intervene effectively. Additionally, the STM is implementing various measures to enhance safety, including a text messaging service for non-urgent safety concerns and increased staff visibility in key stations.
Furthermore, the STM has approximately 180 special constables and 30 safety ambassadors patrolling the network, along with over 2,500 cameras in the Metro for real-time monitoring of critical areas. These efforts aim to ensure the safety and security of both employees and passengers using public transit in Montreal.