Media Advisory: Justice Minister and Transit Industry to Highlight New Law

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 19, 2015) - The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) will hold a joint media conference with the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Senator Bob Runciman on Bill S-221, a new federal law that is intended to deter assaults and threats to public transit operators and taxi drivers. Minister Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Multiculturalism) and Corneliu Chisu, MP (Pickering-Scarborough East) will also participate.

CUTA and ATU have worked closely with Senator Runciman and the federal government to help move the legislation forward. Mike Mahar, Director of ATU and Michael Roschlau, President and CEO of CUTA, will unveil their new public awareness campaign ads during the media conference and will be available for comment.

S-221 SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Criminal Code to require a court to consider the fact that the victim of an assault is a public transit operator to be an aggravating circumstance for the purposes of sentencing.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Bills/412/Private/S-221/S-221_4/S-221_4.PDF

About ATU

Established in 1982, the ATU Canadian Council is the highest authority and voice in Canada for the Amalgamated Transit Union on all issues of Canadian interest including Legislation, Political, Educational, Health and Safety, Cultural and Social Welfare matters.

About CUTA

CUTA is the collective and influential voice of public transportation in Canada, dedicated to being at the centre of urban mobility issues with all orders of government, and delivering the highest value to its members and the communities they serve. CUTA is the national association representing public transit systems, suppliers to the industry, government agencies, individuals and related organizations in Canada.