THUNDER BAY – The local union president for city transit workers supports a new federal law that could lead to harsher sentences for those convicted of assaulting bus drivers.
The House of Commons on Monday unanimously passed Bill S-221, which amends the Criminal Code to require a judge to consider the assault of a public transit operator an “aggravating circumstance” when rendering a sentence.
Sheila Kivisto, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union local 966, said the new bill is a positive step for helping to ensure the security of operators who have a public safety responsibility not only to riders but other motorists and pedestrians.
Combined with surveillance cameras that capture any potential onboard incident and assist with identifying suspects, the threat of tougher penalties should help act as a deterrent against violence.
“Part of our defence is the cameras on unit to let people know if they do something their faces are there and we can point it out,” she said on Friday, adding union officials had been lobbying for the amendment for nearly a decade.
“This just helps out on the end of it when they’re caught, because a lot of times when they had been caught nothing happens.”
The bill was first introduced in the Senate last May and has made quick progress through both houses, culminating with the passing of the third reading.
In addition to buses, the bill defines public transit operators as drivers of vehicles such taxicabs, trains, subways, ferries and school buses.
Across Canada there are 2,000 annual reported cases of assaults against public transit operators.
While most of those incidents take place in larger cities such as Toronto, where an average of four operators are assaulted per week, there have been local cases.
“In the past there have been drivers who have been physical assaulted and punched,” Kivisto said.
She added the union is considering pushing for other security measures, such as having drivers in separate enclosures, though there are a number of factors to consider.
