Montreal’s transportation authorities and the newly elected mayor are responding to rising safety concerns on the city’s bus and Metro systems. This comes after data revealed an increase in transit-related assaults in major Canadian cities. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada emphasized that addressing safety concerns involves multiple issues, not just one.
According to a recent analysis by CBC News, the number of reported assaults on transit in several major Canadian cities, including Montreal, doubled between 2016 and 2024. While transit-related 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. Despite this, the rates remain significantly higher than a decade ago.
Mayor Martinez Ferrada stated that although the numbers have not seen a significant increase, there is a prevailing sense of insecurity among residents. She mentioned plans to increase the presence of constables in the Metro but stressed that addressing homelessness and drug-related issues in the city is equally important.
Laurence Houde-Roy, a spokesperson for Montreal’s public transit authority, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), highlighted the challenges faced by the transit network, including increased alcohol and drug use and loitering, especially since the onset of the pandemic. To address these issues, the STM recently reinstated a policy requiring individuals to keep moving in stations, providing constables with an additional tool for maintaining order.
The STM is also rolling out various measures to enhance safety for both employees and customers, including a text messaging service for reporting non-urgent safety concerns. With approximately 180 special constables and 30 safety ambassadors patrolling the network, as well as increased staff visibility in key stations, the STM is actively working to ensure a secure environment. Additionally, the Metro network boasts over 2,500 cameras for real-time monitoring of critical areas.