Ensemble Montréal does not believe that the plan of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) which aims to concentrate part of its workforce in ten problematic metro stations will really reassure users. “We are undressing Paul to dress Pierre,” maintains the leader of the opposition, Aref Salem, who suggests instead increasing the number of special constables and establishing a help line system by telephone or by text so that customers can obtain rapid assistance in the event of an emergency.
To counter the feeling of insecurity among its users following several violent events, the STM confirmed Wednesday that it would increase the visibility of its special constables and its security ambassadors in certain metro stations. Ten were designated, namely Joliette, Papineau, Beaudry, Frontenac, Lionel-Groulx, Atwater, Bonaventure, Jarry, Jean-Talon, Mont-Royal.
The plan called “Reassurance” provides that special constables will be paired with two security ambassadors in order to ensure a presence from the morning until the stations close. The STM will not add staff, but will ask its special constables to work overtime. However, the STM does not know what the cost of this measure will be.
“This year, at the STM, we cut 232 positions and created 60 for safety and cleanliness issues,” recalled the chairman of the STM board of directors, Éric Alan Caldwell. “But we must not tell ourselves stories. Our network is downstream of the problem. If we do not resolve the issues of housing, clinical follow-up, mental health and drug addiction, people, if they cannot find a place elsewhere, will take refuge in the metro. »
“Bogus ad”
Aref Salem called this plan a “bogus announcement”. According to him, the STM and the City of Montreal will have to do much more to counter the feeling of insecurity experienced by metro users. The measures proposed by Ensemble Montréal suggest, in addition to the establishment of a help service, an increase in the number of special constables to 230. Currently, the STM has 160 special constables, but 20 additional constables will be deployed by summer and 20 more will be in training next fall.
“We cannot require our constables to work overtime. There will be professional burnout, argues Aref Salem. These people don’t work behind a desk. They are in contact with vulnerable humans. »
According to him, the STM must also improve station lighting — which it has already undertaken to do —, deploy employees in all metro ticket offices and install toilets outside stations for the vulnerable population.
Aref Salem fears a drop in public transport ridership if the metro is not more welcoming to users. “It doesn’t take Papineau any thought to say that if we are not safe, there are fewer and fewer people who will travel by public transit. »
Neither the STM nor Aref Salem believe that it is justified to arm special constables, whether with firearms or electric shock weapons, as suggested by the Fraternity of Constables and Agents of the peace of the STM. “This is in no way in the plans and it is not a need either,” said Jocelyn Latulippe, Director of Safety and Fire Safety for the STM. “We are in an overflow situation where there are mental health problems. Yes, it causes aggression, but we are not at that level. »
Asked about the STM’s tolerance of the presence of homeless people or people under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the stations, a source of insecurity for users, Mr. Latulippe clarified that loitering does not was not prohibited in the metro, but that employees had to intervene in the event of incivility or mischief.
The STM plan should be subject to modifications in May in anticipation of the summer season.
Even though he called for more hiring, the president of the Fraternity of Constables and Peace Officers of the STM, Kevin Grenier, welcomed the plan proposed by the employer. ” It’s a good idea. It is certain that it will have a short-term effect, but my fear is that it will not be part of a long-term plan. Safety is 365 days a year. »
Mr. Grenier also says he is concerned about professional burnout which could, in the long run, affect his troops.