STM ends temporary ban on loitering in Montreal Metro

Montreal's public transit agency is lifting a temporary rule against loitering in the Metro — a controversial measure established in mid-March to help deal with rising social problems in the network, including homelessness.

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) announced the ban, citing rising homelessness, criminal activity and public drug use. And while advocates for the unhoused have been concerned about the measure, others were pleased.

"We've seen a huge difference in recent weeks," said Philippe Jacques, spokesperson for the public transit advocacy group Trajectoire Québec.

There have been fewer people loitering in the Metro, allowing users to navigate more easily, he said.

He said many riders and their children have been feeling unsafe travelling by Metro. Kids, he said, don't even want to use it to go to school.

"We also have sympathy for employees of the STM, especially those who are cleaning," said Jacques, noting they face the risk of contacting hypodermic needles and aggression.

The obligation to circulate rather than loiter ended on Wednesday. The STM will spend the next few weeks studying the impact of this temporary measure, the agency said in a brief statement while declining an interview request.

Sam Watts, CEO and executive director of Welcome Hall Mission, recently witnessed some people being escorted out of the Metro, and while he doesn't know the full story, he said it's concerning to see something like that.

"Because what we're doing is causing vulnerable people to be more vulnerable by moving them from one location to another without providing any kind of viable services connected to their needs," said Watts.

"At the same time, we think it's important that the Metro be a secure place."

But as it stands, there's no comprehensive way of ensuring people are helped rapidly to get from a position of vulnerability back into permanent housing, he said. 

Until that's done effectively, people are going to fall through the cracks, moving around the city in search of solutions they can't find, he said.

"Our governments are going to have to step up and provide us with the tools in order for us to do the things that we know need to be done and we know how to do," said Watts. "We're just not able to do them at the scale right now that we would like."

Coun. Robert Beaudry, Montreal's executive committee member in charge of homelessness, said two shelters were open over the winter, including one near city hall and a second one in the borough of St-Laurent. Both were urgent openings to help those in need, as was a warming station downtown.