News

Canadian Urban Transit Association Releases First-Ever National Transit Safety Documentary


Published September 25, 2025.

A Groundbreaking Look at the Front Lines of Transit Safety in Canada

OTTAWA – The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) is proud to announce the release of On the Front Line: Keeping Transit Safe, the first national documentary to spotlight transit safety from the perspective of those who live it every day: frontline staff.

Filmed on location in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal, the documentary follows outreach workers, special constables, peace officers, and police partners as they navigate increasingly complex safety challenges in Canada’s transit systems. The project brings to life CUTA’s 27 national safety recommendations and explores how agencies are responding to visible societal issues like homelessness, substance use, and mental health crises.

“Safety on transit isn’t just a transportation issue – it’s a social issue,” says Marco D’Angelo, President and CEO of CUTA. “This documentary gives voice to the people on the front lines and shows the compassion, courage, and coordination needed to keep transit safe for everyone.”

The documentary was produced in partnership with TransLink, Calgary Transit, Edmonton Transit Service, Toronto Transit Commission, and the Société de transport de Montréal, with vital contributions from union leaders, outreach professionals, and policing partners.

“Transit agencies are stepping up in extraordinary ways, but they are being asked to fill the gaps left by underfunded health, housing, and social service systems,” adds David Cooper, Executive Producer of the documentary and author of CUTA’s national transit safety recommendations. “We made On the Front Line: Keeping Transit Safe, not just to tell these stories—but to advocate for real action from every level of government.”

On the Front Line calls on all levels of government to provide sustained safety funding, deploy mental health workers on transit, strengthening legal protections for transit workers under the criminal code, and invest in housing, health care, and substance use supports so transit systems are not left to manage these complex issues alone.

A Call for Action

On the Front Line is more than a documentary—it is an advocacy tool. It supports CUTA’s call for governments at all levels to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of riders and frontline workers by:

  • Strengthening Legal Protections Under the Criminal Code
    • CUTA is calling for federal leadership to address violence and harassment through legal reform by amending subsection 269.01 of the Criminal Code to strengthen penalties for assaults on transit workers.
    • Current protections only apply to bus and transit vehicle operators. In 2024, Bill C-395 was introduced to extend these protections to all transit workers—including fare inspectors, maintenance staff, and station personnel—but it lapsed with the election.
    • CUTA urges the Government of Canada to reintroduce similar legislation to send a strong signal that transit worker safety is a national priority.
  • Federal and Provincial Transit Safety Funding
    • Dedicated capital and operating programs to support:
      • Safety-related station retrofits and infrastructure upgrades
      • Training and capacity building for frontline and outreach staff
      • Funding for outreach and enforcement staff in the transit environment

As transit agencies continue to show leadership, On The Front Line: Keeping Transit Safe, offers a powerful case for why safety requires shared responsibility. The film reminds viewers that safe transit is not just about security—it’s about care, dignity, and public accountability.

-30-

Media Contacts:

Jon MacMull
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 647-215-7555

David Cooper
Principal, Leading Mobility Consulting
Producer: On the Front Line: Keeping Transit Safe
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 403-836-3796