Stiles demands greater measures to ensure TTC safety

QUEEN'S PARK — Marit Stiles, incoming Leader of the Official Opposition, is demanding increased measures to protect transit riders and workers following a string of violent events on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).

“My heart goes out to all those impacted in these recent events on the TTC, both employees, and riders, ”said Stiles. “I know many people in my riding and across Toronto are feeling anxious and frightened right now. We need to ensure that the TTC is a safe way for everyone to get to work, school, and around the city.

Public transit is the backbone of Toronto and part of daily life in Toronto, especially for TTC employees. More must be done to ensure transit workers can go to work knowing they have a safe working environment. More must be done to protect riders so they can safely return home to their families. We need significant social investments to tackle these issues from all levels of government."

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) branches across the province have been advocating for immediate, ongoing, and substantial increases in funding and support. CMHA points to government underfunding of mental health support as a contributing barrier to mental health access.

"We are witnessing a mental health epidemic in Toronto and across the province," said Stiles. "Many of these attacks have been unprovoked and baseless. My colleagues and I have heard from the CMHA and mental health experts across the province about these issues plaguing our communities. We need long-term solutions, not stopgaps. It couldn't be clearer that urgent funding is needed to improve mental health and safeguard our communities."

Amalgamated Transit Union 113 (ATU) will raise these same concerns tonight during the online town hall that MPPs Jill Andrew (Toronto-St. Paul's) and Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre) are hosting to address fixing P3-LRT systems in Ottawa and Toronto.