Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has announced her party's commitment to improving safety on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway system, pledging to provide provincial funding for the installation of platform edge doors at subway stations. During her campaign stop on February 1, 2025, in Scarborough, Crombie emphasized the need for heightened security measures, stating, "We know over a million people ride the TTC each and every day. And for myself and for others, there's situations where you just don't feel safe."
Joined by Peter Yuen, former deputy chief of the Toronto Police Service and the Liberal candidate for Scarborough–Agincourt, Crombie highlighted the importance of making the subway system accessible and safe for the public. "We want people to ride public transit, and I want to make it as accessible and safe as possible," she remarked, pointing out easy, practical solutions to improve the feeling of security for commuters.
The proposed platform edge doors would act as barriers separating the platforms from the train tracks. These systems have been shown to prevent injuries and fatalities effectively, particularly reducing the risk of suicides, which is one of the concerns highlighted by Toronto Public Health back in their 2014 report recommending such measures.
This safety initiative follows tragic incidents, including a high-profile case from 2018, when a 56-year-old man pushed another onto the tracks at the city's busy Bloor-Yonge station, leading to serious injuries and raising urgent calls for safety reform. The TTC estimates the cost for installing platform doors across its network to be about $1 billion, with plans for implementation at Bloor-Yonge part of renovations, though such work has yet to be completed.
Crombie also proposed funding for hiring 300 additional special constables for the TTC and other transit systems, bolstering security measures for commuters. She expressed concerns about the use of transit as shelter, saying, "You have people using the TTC as shelter to come off the cold... there are times on our subway cars where, quite frankly, you just feel unsafe."
The announcement has initiated responses from rival political parties. A spokesperson for the Progressive Conservative campaign emphasized recent transit investments made under Doug Ford, including over $300 million allocated to safety initiatives like new police and transit safety officers. Grace Lee, the spokesperson, pointed out the government's commitment to enhancing cellular services and emergency response times, stating, "While the Liberals sat on their hands for 15 years, the Ontario PCs are getting shovels in the ground on all four priority subway projects..."
NDP Leader Marit Stiles welcomed the safety proposals made by Crombie but criticized the overall track record on transit promises, saying, "I think a lot of people right now are struggling with the cost of using public transit..." Stiles highlighted the necessity for not just proposals but effective implementation and results of transit projects.
With the election date set for February 27, the forthcoming weeks are poised to feature heightened debate over transit safety and accessibility within the crowded and competitive Ontario political arena. Crombie's plans for the TTC are poised to become pivotal for voters who prioritize safety and efficient public transit access as they head to the polls.