City council has voted to phase in the installation of permanent barriers on Saskatoon transit, to protect drivers from assault. Currently there are only temporarily vinyl barriers due to COVID-19 but in the last 3 years city administration says there has been 28 assaults on drivers.

Darcy Peterson, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union 615 says assaults are on the rise, and in Saskatoon things like threats, intimidation and fights on buses are also increasing. Peterson says transit operators are on the frontline facing new challenges on with professionalism. He appealed to council to help with these challenges and to give them the safety equipment they need to keep safe on the front lines. Peterson says he would like to not have to worry about whether he will be able to go home safely at the end of his day.

The initial plan in the report presented to council was to create a pilot project for the barriers but a motion from Councillor Bev Dubois and seconded by Councillor Randy Donauer, will now see the barriers phased in with initial funding of $500,000. The motion passed unanimously, while a motion from Councillor Darren Hill requesting more information regarding the location of the 28 assaults also passed by a vote of 6-5.