MONTREAL — The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has announced new measures intended to improve safety within the city’s metro system by increasing police patrols and enforcing restrictions on loitering. These actions come as the STM and city officials voice concern over the rising number of people using the metro as shelter, particularly those facing homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health issues.
On March 13, 2025, during discussions on the homelessness crisis, transit officials disclosed their plans to implement an "obligation of movement" policy until the end of April. According to Éric Alan Caldwell, chair of the STM, the metro has increasingly become the "overflow unit for the most vulnerable people who fall through the cracks of the social safety net." This change is part of the agency's response to growing complaints about safety, which have risen sharply amid reports of drug use, human waste, and other disruptive behaviors within the transportation network.
"The metro is not a shelter," Caldwell emphasized. "It’s not a place offering care." Marie-Claude Léonard, STM’s CEO, corroborated this by stating, "Employees and transit users are witnessing open drug use and increased antisocial behaviors, rendering the metro unsafe for everyone, especially those who require care and support. It’s simply unacceptable."
The city’s decision to restrict access inside nine metro stations stemmed from alarming statistics indicating only 49% of metro users feel secure using the system. Complaints about safety and incidents of drug use are on the rise, prompting many users to reconsider their commute options altogether. The city is now prioritizing the construction of barriers and fencing around high-traffic areas where loiterers tend to gather.
Officials have extended operations at two warming centers until April 30, aiming to provide shelter for those left vulnerable by this crackdown. Mayor Valérie Plante acknowledged the difficult balance of maintaining safety and addressing the needs of Montreal’s homeless population. "Limiting access for at-risk individuals is heartbreaking," she stated. "Yet if we don’t act, we risk losing even more riders who feel unsafe taking the metro. We must avoid reaching the point where everyday users begin to refuse using this necessary mode of transport."
Opposition voices at city hall rapidly condemned the STM's actions as misguided. Advocates for the unhoused, including Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, criticized these measures as ineffective, stating, "Pushing displaced individuals away from metro stations won’t help them; they’ll simply end up at other public spaces or even freeze outside. This approach doesn’t help; it just pushes the problem aside."
Another activist, Annie Savage, director of the Réseau d'aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal (RAPSIM), expressed alarm at the failure to provide tangible solutions, particularly when resources are already stretched beyond capacity. "What we really need to ask ourselves is: 'What happens to those we're moving?'" she asked, pointing out the overarching issue of unmet requests for support and aid. "Right now, the answer is 'nothing.'"
Quebec’s provincial government has responded with funding commitments, announcing nearly $50 million earmarked for homelessness services, with $24 million allocated to Montreal over the next two years. Provincial Social Services Minister Lionel Carmant acknowledged the challenges faced by transit users but urged local agencies to coordinate more effectively to address these compelling social issues.
Still, critics maintain the STM's restrictive policies will only exacerbate existing tensions.
Benoit Langevin, the homelessness critic from the Opposition party Ensemble Montréal, underscored the need for balance between enforcement and support. "While we welcome safety measures, they must be paired with increased resources for social services and shelters," he argued. "Ignoring the root causes and simply pushing these individuals elsewhere will inevitably lead to conflicts spilling over from the metro to the streets."
Despite the criticism, transit officials remain focused on what they deem necessary measures to restore public trust. Montreal police have ramped up their presence on the metro and expect to see special constables regularly intervening to address disruptive behaviors.
By creating a new coordination cell involving city officials, police, and health department workers, Montreal aims to develop long-term strategies to combat the intertwining challenges of homelessness and drug addiction. The city is currently exploring options for social housing projects and is lobbying for enhanced provincial funding to tackle these increasing concerns.
The announced measures are set to remain active until the end of April, aligning with expectations of warmer weather, after which officials hope to reassess the situation and the effectiveness of the current policies. Although transit officials stress their desire for safety, they face the hard truth of determining how to compassionately manage the welfare of those caught within the crisis at hand.