Extending WAVs to 10 years at Committee today
Driver earnings, cap on VFH numbers 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 today’s Executive Committee meeting.
Co-op Cabs CEO Abdul Mohamoud has submitted a letter expressing support for the extension of the permitted age of WAVs to 10 years, and also to request that outstanding staff reports be completed and considered by June, 2025.
“We request that staff be instructed to present these reports—including one addressing the appropriate number of licenses permitted in Toronto—back to the Executive Committee by June 2025. Our Canadian companies have faced an uneven playing field since Mayor Tory endorsed a ‘carve out’ for Uber, a US-based multinational company valued at approximately $220 billion CAD. This allowance permits them to set their own rates, hire unlimited drivers, and compensate their drivers at will, resulting in a distinctly unfair competitive landscape, where Canadian companies are subject to regulation (designed to protect both consumers and drivers) while American firms operate under self-regulation,” notes Mohamoud.
Co-op Cabs letter to Committee
Mayor Chow’s letter requesting that Toronto permanently extend the life of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) from seven years to ten years is also 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.
