Taxi industry slamming brakes on September strike rumours

torontosun.com
Aug. 3, 2016
By Shawn Jeffords

Members of Toronto’s taxi community moved Wednesday to quell rumours of a cab strike targeting two high-profile city events this fall over frustration with new ride-sharing rules.

Both the Toronto Taxi Alliance and Beck Taxi released independent statements Wednesday to address fears that frustrated cabbies might clog city streets during both the Toronto International Film Festival and the World Cup of Hockey, set for September.

Rita Smith, Executive Director of the Toronto Taxi Alliance, said that group can’t get behind a strike or protest.

“We have never thought that was a wise idea for the industry or good for the city,” she said.

But Smith acknowledged the rumours are rampant in the community because of the perceived slow rollout of rules that would bring Uber drivers under city regulations. In May, city council approved a new regulatory system for cabs and ride-sharing services. Those rules went into effect on July 15 and Smith wonders why it’s taking so long to give Uber a city permit and in turn screen the company’s drivers.

“We’re coming up on three weeks after the implementation of the bylaws,” she said. “Three months after the (council vote) and Uber is still not registered as anything in the city yet.”

Beck Taxi operations manager Kristine Hubbard said the company empathizes with frustrated drivers but doesn’t believe a strike is the right way to go.

“Beck does not believe inconveniencing Torontonians or visitors to our city is the appropriate course of action, especially during an important event like the Toronto International Film Festival,” she said in a statement.

Mayor Tory asked cabbies across the city for patience, stressing that city staff will need some time to bring Uber under regulation.

“I would ask (that) the taxi industry, who themselves got a number of important and justified concessions as part of the new regulations, would be patient,” he said. “(And) would allow us to take the time beyond two weeks to get this new regulatory regime fully implemented and then we can move forward to enforce the law and make sure things are happening exactly as we intend.”

Tracey Cook, the city’s executive director of Municipal Licensing and Standards, said her staff have been working extra hours since the council decision in May to create the new regulatory regime. She said Uber has been working well with staff but because of the volume of records to go through granting them a license by July 15 would not be possible.

“We were under no misconception or belief that we were going to be able to issue the license that day,” she said. “It’s a new bylaw, it’s a new licensing category, it’s a new approach.”

Cook said the Uber should have its license by the end of August and then the city will start to vet its drivers.

Uber Canada spokesman Susie Heath said the company has been working with the city over the last two months, to come into compliance with Toronto’s new bylaw.

“We have applied for our PTC license and look forward to receiving it from the City of Toronto soon,” she said in a statement to the Sun. “The city has a phased application process and we expect to fulfil each phase as it becomes available.”