A mother from Newmarket has accused fare inspectors on York Region Transit of using excessive force and engaging in racial profiling against her 21-year-old son with disabilities. The incident reportedly occurred on July 30 when the young man took GO transit from Union Station to Newmarket, then transferred to a York Region Transit bus.
To protect her son’s identity as a Black individual, the mother and her son have chosen not to be named publicly. The mother explained that her son mistakenly forgot to tap his Presto card at Newmarket before boarding the regional bus, believing it was an honest oversight rather than an attempt to evade the fare.
Upon disembarking the regional bus, fare inspectors asked for proof of payment, which the young man misunderstood. Due to his disabilities, he attempted to leave, prompting one inspector to start shouting. Subsequently, the situation escalated with alleged physical confrontation by the inspectors, resulting in the young man being handcuffed, thrown to the ground, and subjected to a bag search, leading to minor injuries.
The incident is currently under investigation by York Region’s transit director, Richard Montoya, who emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and assured full cooperation. The mother expressed concern that the situation might have been different if her son were white. Despite receiving two tickets for fare-related issues, she believes her son’s treatment was unjust.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) has highlighted the lack of independent oversight for transit officers, especially in cases involving special constables. The CCLA is supporting the mother and son and advocating for greater accountability measures for law enforcement on public transit.
Calls for an independent review have been made by The Red Coalition, a national advocacy group combatting racial profiling, emphasizing the intersectionality of race and disability in such incidents. The CCLA has urged the establishment of a provincewide independent civilian body to oversee transit officers and ensure transparency and accountability in their actions. CBC Toronto has reached out to the province for a response to the CCLA’s concerns.
The family is seeking justice and resolution through a thorough investigation and systemic changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
