STM again rejects arming special constables

Montreal transit authority STM says its special constables will not be equipped with guns or stun guns, despite a union campaign arguing they need more protection on the job. The agency said it wants officers to continue prioritizing deescalation and noted that special constables already carry pepper spray and a baton. STM also said use of force accounts for less than 1% of constable interventions. The union says its members face more dangerous situations in Metro stations and transit areas, including incidents involving drug users and dealers, and argues they are underequipped. STM is also creating a new security and organizational resilience directorate led by former provincial police chief Martin Prud'homme.