The city of Toronto will temporarily deploy 50 security guards on Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) property and hire 20 community safety ambassadors in an effort to prioritize safety in the system.
In a statement issued Monday, the city said the decision was part of "the medium- and long-term strategy" to prioritize "many different and complex issues related to safety in the transit system."
Both services will go into effect immediately, the statement said.
The 50 security guards temporarily deployed have "daily experience" in dealing with homeless people in crisis and are trained in mental health first aid, overdose prevention and response, and nonviolent crisis intervention, the city said.
When asked what company had been contracted to provide security services or what the guards' compliance directives will be, the city said they would have "more [details] on the rollout in the coming days."
The TTC says the 50 new guards will be in addition to the commitment made in its proposed 2023 operating budget to hire 25 new special constables and fill 25 existing special constable positions.