Opposition party wants dogs allowed on Montreal city buses

Bella, Charlie, Perry and Theo accompany their Ensemble Montreal parents in asking the city to allow them onto the metro. (Ensemble Montreal)

After being permitted in the Metros, Montreal’s opposition party wants to allow dogs on city buses.

Montreal’s city council voted unanimously in favour of allowing leashed dogs on the Metro in 2022. The public transit authority (STM) said in December that it would like the bike and dog rule to be made permanent, while it also wants e-scooters and e-bikes banned.

Ensemble Montreal, the city’s opposition party, asked on Monday that the city extend the rules to buses.

“The cohabitation between users and their dogs is going wonderfully in the Metro,” said councillor Aref Salem.

“However, many Montrealers are not lucky enough to live near a station or must take the bus to complete their journey. Our goal is to offer them the same flexibility and to make travel by public transit more accessible and pleasant for everyone.”

Sophie Gaillard, director of animal advocacy and legal and government affairs at the Montreal SPCA, says this initiative helps low-income dog owners.

“It’s only people who can afford to take a taxi or have a car that can bring their dogs along with them when they go on outings,” she said.

Gaillard says there are also benefits to sharing spaces with dogs.

“Allowing dogs more access to public spaces decreases the risk of bite incidents, for example, and so it enhances our public safety.”

The party cited a 2023 survey of STM users which found a 70 per cent approval of allowing leashed and muzzled dogs on the Metro.

Other cities such as Toronto, Calgary and Boston allow dogs on the bus, the party said.

While dogs in carriers and service animals are already allowed on the bus, the STM told CTV News they are not completely on board with the idea, pointing out financial and social concerns.

“The STM must prioritize service delivery and safety. We want to improve and stabilize our performance indicators related to overcrowding, cleanliness, and safety before considering this measure,” the STM wrote in an email to CTV News.

The motion will be debated at the next municipal council meeting on March 17 and 18.

Mayor Valerie Plante’s office declined to comment as the motion has not yet been presented.