Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by hundreds of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The petitioners include folks who are family members or neighbours of bus drivers and transit workers and also bus operators and transit workers themselves.
Given the number of assaults that we are seeing on bus drivers and transit operators across the country, it is an epidemic, the petitioners are asking the House of Commons to support the legislative initiative that comes from me extending to bus operators and transit operators the same protections under the Criminal Code that are afforded to police officers who are assaulted while performing their duties. This would establish stiffer penalties for their assailants.
Bus drivers, transit operators, their family members and neighbours are calling on government and the House of Commons to take action to protect bus drivers and transit operators.