What to know
- Ontario plans legislation to give transit special constables police-like powers to address illegal drug use on systems like the TTC and GO Transit
- Constables would be able to issue fines or make arrests, then transfer cases to police
- The bill also targets illegal drug production, including banning equipment like pill presses and cracking down on precursor chemicals and complicit landlords
- If passed, the measures could take effect July 1, alongside increased transit security efforts such as more officers and body cameras
The Ford government is proposing legislation that would allow special constables to arrest people using illegal drugs on transit systems across Ontario, including the TTC.
In an announcement Monday, Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said the province plans to introduce new legislation granting special constables employed by Metrolinx, the TTC and OC Transpo in Ottawa powers equivalent to those of police.
“Protecting Ontario means making sure people feel safe when they use public transit,” Kerzner said. “Through these proposed changes, we are giving law enforcement and their partners the tools they need to keep our communities and transit systems safe, while holding offenders and those who enable them accountable.”
Kerzner said a special constable would first ask an individual they suspect of using drugs to stop. If they do not comply, the situation could escalate to a fine or an arrest. After making an arrest, the constable would then contact police.
“If somebody is riding on the subway below us, they have every right to feel safe… we will bring the regulation into force, they will feel safe,” Kerzner said.
The proposed legislation would also target illegal drug production by banning the possession, use or sale of designated equipment, such as pill presses, intended for manufacturing illicit drugs. It would further prohibit the possession, production or trafficking of precursor chemicals used to make illegal substances.
In addition, the measures would crack down on commercial landlords who knowingly allow illegal drug production on their properties and provide police with stronger authority to shut down such operations.
In a statement Monday, Premier Doug Ford welcomed the proposal, saying transit riders have reached a breaking point.
“Ontario transit riders have had enough of dangerous, illegal and open drug use on our subways, buses and streetcars,” Ford said in a post on X. “We’re bringing in tough new rules to crack down on people using drugs on public transit so we can keep our communities safe.”
If passed, the legislation would take effect July 1.
Ford first raised the idea in February, proposing amendments to the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act (RPCISA), which came into force last summer and aims to prohibit the use of illegal drugs in public spaces.
The proposal follows a recent announcement from Metrolinx to increase police presence at Union Station and roll out body-worn cameras for special constables.
