‘Difficult decision’: exo cutting 11 per cent of workforce

An man looks out a window of an EXO commuter train as it pulls out of a station in Montreal, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Like the Société de transport de Montréal (STM), exo has announced it is also making “significant” spending cuts amid financial challenges.

On Monday, the commuter train company unveiled its $546.4-million budget for 2026, with measures to reduce operating expenses by almost $19 million.

The transit company had already announced last December that it would be reducing or postponing several projects.

These included investments in accessibility, which general director Marc Rousseau said was not funded by the government, as well as the construction of garages for electric vehicles, a reduction in preliminary projects, a slowdown in electrification activities, a gradual reduction in the use of external resources, a minimal maintenance plan for rolling stock, and the consolidation of technological investments.

• Disability advocates denounce cuts into exo station accessibility

The company said cutting down on costs could have a wide range of impacts, including:

• Cutting the workforce by 11 per cent.
• Reduction in the number of external resources by 37 per cent.
• Reducing the number of licenses and IT tools.
• “Operational adjustments” to the customer service centre and ticket office.

“These changes represent a particularly difficult decision, as they affect colleagues who have played a vital role in our success, and we sincerely thank them for their commitment,” Rousseau said in a release.

“This has been a particularly difficult week for our teams. While these adjustments do not reflect our vision for growth, they are necessary to ensure our financial viability. As CEO, it is my responsibility to act responsibly, even when certain choices prove to be difficult, to ensure the financial sustainability of the organization.”

• READ MORE: STM’s 2026 budget includes cutbacks as agency pleads for more public transit funds

exo says the budget forecast remains balanced due to the “exceptional” use of $17.6 million in operating surpluses for the third year running.

The chair of the transit company’s board, Pierre Fortin, cautioned that achieving the target of $100 million in recurring savings by 2028 would not come without “impacting service offerings.”

“Discussions are underway with the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) and will continue with our municipal partners to assess the conditions necessary to offer services that adequately meet the needs of the population,” Fortin said.

“Other solutions will have to be identified to maintain a balance between user needs and our service offering, as well as to ensure sustainable funding for public transit.”