Disrupting NBA all-star weekend won’t help cabbies, mayor warns

Some drivers threaten a protest to press demands for an injunction against Uber; John Tory says disrupting city’s "proud moment" won’t change a thing.

Thestar.com
Feb. 8, 2016
By David Rider

Toronto will shine in the NBA All-Star spotlight, predicts Mayor John Tory, but he hopes a threatened taxi protest does not embarrass the city.

“It's a proud moment for our city to be able to host a global attraction like this,” Tory said Monday, kicking off a week of All-Star festivities leading to the Sunday game that will be beamed to 215 countries in 49 languages.

The game could inspire GTA kids to become future all-stars, he said, noting that Thornhill-raised superstar Andrew Wiggins will be on the Air Canada Centre hardwood with Raptors sensations DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

Thousands of foreign fans are descending on Toronto, many of them first-time visitors, Tory said, adding that past All-Star host cities report direct economic benefits of between $85 million and $100 million.

“I think it's going to be something that's very, very positive for Toronto in every aspect,” he said of the game pitting the NBA’s best against each other.

“The world will be watching us.”

Events include Saturday’s skills challenge, with the YouTube-destined dunk contest, Friday’s match between Canadian and U.S. celebrities, and practice sessions at Ricoh Coliseum.

Tory’s glow dimmed when reporters asked about taxi industry officials’ threats to disrupt traffic to protest city council and Toronto police not moving to shut down the ride-hailing service Uber.

Inconveniencing a Toronto full of tourists won’t hasten city staff’s work to draft new rules to level the playing field between heavily regulated, fee-paying taxis and virtually unregulated Uber, he warned, adding he agrees the status quo is unfair to cabs.

“Having a protest and disrupting the city, and frankly taking away from their own ability to make a living during that time, that is not going to speed this process up by one minute,” Tory said.

The mayor said he had not spoken to Police Chief Mark Saunders about how to handle protests like the one in December that snarled traffic, infuriating drivers and commuters.

“Law enforcement officials will have to take whatever steps necessary,” he said.

Paul Sekhon, of City Taxi, said Sunday that after a meeting of cab industry officials his newly formed United Taxi Workers Association will protest this weekend, which includes Family Day Monday.

Sekhon appears to be the most militant of the taxi leaders. Others are expressing caution.

Rita Smith, executive director of the Toronto Taxi Alliance, said: “We obey the law, we support the law and anything that we support will be in alignment with the rule of the law.

“If two dozen or four dozen drivers opt to not follow the rule of law and tie up an intersection, it's a black eye for the industry.”

She expressed frustration with the time it’s taking Toronto to propose a solution - Edmonton passed new rules Jan. 26 - and said her group might ask the courts for an injunction to shut down Uber if the city won’t.

Sajid Mughal, president of the iTaxi Workers Association, said “No decision has been made on a protest.” Taxi leaders planned to decide their next move Monday or Tuesday, he said, and announce it Wednesday.