Edmonton transit union calls for strong response to bus driver stabbing | CBC News
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Edmonton’s transit union is calling for a strong response to send a message about transit operator safety after one of its bus drivers was stabbed late Sunday.
“What happened in Edmonton is a reminder of the violence that our members face is real,” Raj Brar, president of amalgamated Transit Union local 569, said Wednesday.
“It’s a serious issue, and we’re demanding a serious response at every level.”
Edmonton police say the driver was stabbed by a passenger on Sunday at 11 p.m. in the area of 35th Street and 119th Avenue. The driver is recovering in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police told CBC News a suspect was arrested without incident a short time later and has been charged with aggravated assault and several breaches of a release order.
“Our immediate concern is for our member and his family, he’s in our thoughts, and no transit worker should have to face an incident like this — not on a bus, not in a transit centre, not anywhere in the job,” Brar said in an interview with CBC News.
Brar said the union expects law enforcement and prosecutors to apply the full weight of the law, including the newly enacted Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act.
The act makes dozens of targeted changes to the bail and sentencing framework in the federal Criminal Code.
“We’re looking for all levels of government to give funding for more transit peace officers, for more City of Edmonton police officers to actively keep the city safe,” Brar said.
Carrie Hotton-MacDonald, Edmonton Transit Service branch manager, said the city is supporting the assaulted driver. Police are investigating, she added.
“From driver safety shields on our buses to bus alarm systems, as well as other training and protocols, multiple tools are in place for operators to report criminal activity and handle difficult situations,” Hotton-MacDonald said.
A city task force reviews assaults on transit operators to look for trends and work forward further improvements of safety measures, she said.
“While many trips happen every day without incident, even one safety incident is too many,” she said.