WAV extension now tied to anti-Trump tariff plan

Decision “kicked down the road” to Council March 26

The age extension for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles from 7 years to 10 years needs to be discussed again at Toronto’s March 26 City Council meeting. The motion passed by Executive Committee on March 19 asks staff to do further research and report on whether and how Toronto’s response to Trump’s tariff program will affect Taxi drivers’ ability to purchase a new vehicle.

Extending the allowable vehicle age seemed like such a slam-dunk when the debate began, that former Taxi Advisory Committee member and first deputant Sajid Mughal suggested to Mayor Olivia Chow that she could save time for all the Committee members and everyone on the speakers list by simply putting her motion recommending extending allowable vehicle age to 10 years to an immediate vote. Without the age extension, Toronto’s Wheelchair Accessible program will virtually collapse. Chow did not address Mughal’s offer.

By the end of the item’s discussion, Committee voted instead to have staff report on how the Wheelchair Accessible program might be impacted by Toronto’s proposed adoption of Mayor Chow’s Economic Action Plan in Response to United States Tariffs. Chow did comment, “We’ll let you know. We will extend it not to worry, but probably we need to deal with the whole issue… there’s some solutions in front of us, so we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

“Again, they’ve kicked the can down the road,” commented Neil Shorey of City Taxi. “All for nothing, again.”

Councillor Bravo’s motion as passed:

Motions

1 – Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Carried)

That:

1. The Executive Committee direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report directly to the March 26, 27 and 28, 2025 meeting of City Council on:

a. the anticipated impact of tariffs on the price and supply of automobiles that are eligible to be operated as a taxicab; and

b. whether, due to tariff impacts on relevant automobiles, the date by which a registered taxicab with the model year 2016 or 2017 is required to be replaced should be extended beyond March 31, 2025.

Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Mayor Olivia Chow (Carried)