FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATU Canada endorses CUTA’s call on all levels of government to address violence on Public Transit

TORONTO, April 24, 2023 – ATU Canada is encouraged that the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) shares the same priorities as the ATU which they have outlined in their recent announcement today – calling for all levels of government to deliver on recommendations put forward in a document “Prioritizing Safety on Public Transit”.  The full set of recommendations can be viewed here.

ATU Canada has been advocating for transit safety for years.  At the start of 2023, as transit violence became a national crisis, ATU Canada called for a National Task Force comprised of all levels of government to look at the root causes, like homelessness, substance use and mental health, and to determine and make recommendations for changes to policies and procedures, changes to the criminal code, and greater investments in transit.

“We remain optimistic that with today’s announcement from CUTA, it will elevate the urgent need for a National Task Force,” said John Di Nino, ATU Canada President.  “The need for a meeting of federal and provincial governments and partnering organizations needs to be a priority and ATU Canada remains committed to working collaboratively to implement solutions to protect riders and workers alike.”

Di Nino has been quite vocal over the past few months about violence on transit becoming a national crisis and governments have remained silent on tackling the issue.  A National Task Force to tackle violence on public transit is desperately needed now. It’s not just the cases you see or hear about in the news – it’s the thousands of reported and unreported assaults that never make the news that is also concerning.  Transit workers and riders are terrified about the ongoing and ever-increasing acts of violence.

“As the crisis continues to escalate – the time to act is now,” concluded Di Nino.

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Rose Carusone
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