Chow hopes to extend WAV age to 10 years

Staff report on VFH earnings is not on Agenda

The Licensing and Standards staff report on Vehicle for Hire (VFH) earnings scheduled to come forward by the end of first quarter (March 31) is not on the agenda for the March 19th Executive Committee meeting.

However, Mayor Chow’s letter requesting that Toronto permanently extend the life of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles from seven years to ten years is on the agenda.

“The bylaw regulating vehicles-for-hire in the City of Toronto mandates maximum allowable ages for vehicles used as a taxicab, limousine or for a private transportation company. I have heard from the vehicle-for-hire industry that a significant proportion of vehicles are due to expire as of March 31st, 2025,” Chow’s March 5th letter to the Executive Committee reads.

“Of particular concern is that 45 wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), or approximately 10% of the existing fleet, are due to expire this year, and a further 203 are set to expire next year. Without a change to the bylaw, there is a significant risk of losing these vehicles from the fleet, which would further reduce accessible service in the City.”

Analysis completed by Taxi News in January 2024 indicated that 77 per cent of Toronto’s WAV’s would age out of the system by January 2025. Despite the fact that numerous Taxi industry spokespersons attempted to explain to L&S staff that oversupply of all VFH is making it completely unprofitable and impossible for WAV operators to meet expenses, it appears that Toronto will once again opt to extend the life of already decrepit vehicles rather than cap the number of Vehicles for Hire.

During the 2024 VFH Review, members of both the rideshare and Taxi industry were consistent in requesting a cap on the number of vehicles in order to allow a more limited pool of drivers meet expenses and earn a living wage.

“In addition, according to staff about 1,300 sedan taxicabs (representing 37% of all current active taxicabs) reach their vehicle age limit on March 31, 2025. Many of those who have ordered their replacement vehicle are affected by severe delays in vehicle delivery and taxi outfitting (including installation of bylaw-required equipment),” Chow’s letter continues.

“That is why I am proposing to take two actions to help the vehicle-for-hire industry: first I am asking that Council permanently extend the maximum vehicle age limit from seven to ten model years for all vehicles-for-hire that are wheelchair accessible. Second, I am proposing to temporarily extend the expiry date from March 31, 2025 to August 29, 2025 for sedan taxicabs
or limousines to reflect current supply chain challenges.”

Driver surveys and industry inquiries over the past three years have found that virtually no WAV owner/operators are willing to invest $80,000 or more in a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle to provide service in Toronto because the unlimited number of VFH makes it impossible for them to cover expenses and earn a living. Additionally, many of the operators are near or at retirement age and cannot expect to continue to drive another seven to ten years in order to pay off the vehicle.