Montreal's Exo transit agency cuts 73 jobs amid budget crisis

Exo, the transit agency serving Montreal's suburbs, is cutting 73 jobs as part of a wider cost-saving plan. The move comes amid ongoing budget pressures across the region's public transport networks. Officials warn that further service reductions may be needed to meet financial targets by 2028.

Exo's latest budget for 2026 trims overall spending by 0.4 per cent from the previous year. The job cuts represent an 11 per cent reduction in the agency's workforce. Chair Pierre Fortin acknowledged that meeting the goal of $100 million in savings by 2028 could eventually affect service levels.

Transit agencies in greater Montreal have struggled with rising costs and stagnant finance for years. The pandemic accelerated financial strain, as ridership across the region plummeted between 2020 and 2021. By 2025, numbers had slowly climbed back to around 80-85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, helped by economic recovery and return-to-office policies.

The STM, Montreal's main transit provider, is also reducing its workforce. Around 300 positions will be eliminated under its 2026 budget. Factors like inflation, more cycling options, and shifting work habits have kept ridership below earlier peaks.

Exo's job cuts and budget adjustments reflect broader financial challenges in Montreal's transit system. With ridership still recovering and costs rising, agencies face difficult choices to balance budgets. Further service changes may follow if savings targets remain unmet.