Concerned about an escalating trend in violent assaults, Robin West, director of the (ATU) Amalgamated Transit Union-Canada, and more than 30,000 transit workers across Canada announced their support of two Private Member's Bills tabled in the House of Commons to protect transit workers.
One of the bills tabled, Bill C-314, attempts to amend the Criminal Code to protect public transportation workers, by increasing the punishment for aggravated assault when the victim is a public transportation worker. These bills were re-introduced after two previous Private Member's Bills dissolved.
West said it is time for the Canadian Government to take action and adopt one of the Private Member's bills or introduce a bill of their own and amend the Criminal Code to increase the punishment for assaulting public transportation workers, so it is the same as assaulting peace officers, firefighters or ambulance attendants.
To view a past METRO article on the subject, click here.