Road Warrior News

A Taxi Owners and Operators meeting with Toronto Councillor Michael Ford took place videoconference on March 21^st, and organizer David Reti is hopeful Ford was receptive to the group’s request for help.

Ford committed to sharing the group’s requests with other Councillors in an effort to establish support for a Motion at City Council, which meets next on April 6^th. His office has not responded to Taxi News’ request for comment at post time.

“We’re asking for support on short-term and longer-term initiatives,” Reti told Taxi News.

Feature/Profile On the Road with Mike Murchison

Are we addicted to noise?

March 13, 2022 Rita Smith

Photo: “The peace that passes all understanding” by Mike Murchison. It’s getting more difficult to find peace and quiet in 2022. Well. I walk into the driver’s lounge at the Space Age Truckstop here in Hermiston, Oregon. There’s a huge,

Feature/Profile

CTV reports that Humbolt crash driver loses bid to stay in Canada

March 10, 2022 Rita Smith

CTV says that according to Michael Greene, the immigration lawyer representing Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, his submission to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has been rejected. Sidhu was sentenced to eight years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and

News Taxi industry news

Taxi drivers were the “front line that drove the front line to work” CTA says in COVID submission to Senate Committee

March 9, 2022 Rita Smith

Taxi drivers were “the front line that drove the front-line workers to work” and should be included in Canada’s proposed Pandemic Observance Day, says Marc Andre way of the Canadian Taxi Association (CTA).

Senate Bill 209 is now being considered by the Standing Affairs Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. If it is passed by the Senate and then the House of Commons, it will see March 11th in each and every year as “Pandemic Observance Day.”

“Our drivers have worked unceasingly during this pandemic to transport people suffering from Covid to and from medical appointments and even isolation centres,” Marc Andre Way, president of the Canadian Taxi Association, wrote in a submission to the Committee.

Guest Contributions Laugh a Little

Ottawa Police sending out non-ticket, non-legal proceeding letters

March 6, 2022 Rita Smith

In what appears to be a brand-new tactic developed to persuade Canadians to “change your driving habits,” the Ottawa Police Service is sending letters to drivers about whom there were complaints during the recent Freedom Convoy 2022 event in February.

News Opinion/Column Trucking

Feds kill idea of inter-provincial vaccine mandates, while Tamara Lich remains in jail

March 3, 2022 Rita Smith

Restrictions on interprovincial travel are forbidden under Canada’s Constitution and are the subject of a lawsuit against the government by Brian Peckford, the last living signatory of Canada’s 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Canada’s Transport Minister Omar Alghabra mused about implementing such restrictions during the Freedom Convoy 2022 in February.

News Ride Hailing news Taxi industry news

Eight training programs provisionally approved for vehicle for hire drivers: Toronto

March 3, 2022 Rita Smith

“Eight programs have been provisionally approved pending a final submission and acceptance of their learning content; three programs require more information in several criteria areas; and one program was denied for not meeting the majority of the City’s criteria,” Naomi Ahmad wrote in an email on March 2^nd.

“As directed by City Council, the City is working on the introduction of a mandatory Driver Training Accreditation Program (DTAP) for all vehicle-for-hire drivers. On November 9, 2021 the City reissued the call for applications for DTAP and received 12 applications. To be on the City’s list of approved training programs, third party training providers need to satisfy all mandatory criteria provided by the City and submit a course content which clearly demonstrates how it will meet the curriculum criteria.”

News Ride Hailing news

Definition of “work” missing in Working for Workers bill

March 1, 2022 Rita Smith

Ontario’s Labour Minister Monte McNaughton introduced legislation on February 28^th which contains words including “minimum wage” and “fundamental rights.”

Working for Workers Act, 2022 (Working for Workers Act 2), apparently would, if passed, continue to lead the country in building an economy that works for everyone.

Road Warrior News was not able to ascertain whether the “work” referred to in the Working for Workers Act, 2022 (Working for Workers Act 2) refers solely to time spent engaged with consumers while excluding time spent between gigs, or whether it includes travel time or time spent on an application, but without a customer. RWN requested clarification of the term “time worked” from the Ministry of Labour and will provide an update when one becomes available.

News Ride Hailing news Taxi industry news Trucking

Trudeau revokes Emergencies Act as bank accounts close, before Senate vote

February 24, 2022 Rita Smith

At 4:10 pm on February 23, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revoked the Emergency Act for which he argued passionately only 48 hours before.

Liberal insiders and observers tell Road Warrior News there were two pressing reasons for Trudeau’s about face: first, the damage being done to the Canadian banking system through the credibility lost when Canada began seizing and freezing bank accounts with no court orders.

Second, is the idea that the Senate might actually vote not to support the Emergencies Act, or might vote “yes” by such a small margin it would embarrass Trudeau.

Author: Rita Smith

Taxi operators meet with Councillor Ford to discuss renewal fees, proposed Advisory Committee