Mr. Speaker, I have four petitions, three of which are from the citizens of Canada who want to draw the attention of the Government of Canada to their extreme concern with the increase in violent assaults against public transit, school bus, paratransit and intercity bus workers across Canada. Not only are these operators at risk when assaulted, but so too are the passengers who place their faith in the operator to transport them safely to their destinations.
Therefore, the petitioners request that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada amend the Criminal Code to recognize the growing incidence of violence against public transit, school bus, paratransit, intercity transit operators, affecting their safety and that of the travelling public in Canada in the same fashion that peace officers are recognized in the code.