Author: Rita Smith

The Toronto Police Service is alerting the public to a sexual assault investigation and seeking the public’s assistance identifying a man who may, or may not, be driving a vehicle for hire.

The media release issued by TPS identifies a “driver” but does not indicate what kind of driver he is. Taxi News sought clarification on whether police are looking for a non-professional driver or a professional driver; and, if professional, whether the man was driving a Taxi, a limo, or a ride hail vehicle. (However, it appears Taxi could be eliminated as licensed Taxis in Toronto are marked with branded paint jobs, roof lights, and license numbers and would have been obvious).

In 2016, after Toronto re-wrote its vehicle for hire by-law to permit ridesharing, it completely eliminated the driver training program it had been running for almost 50 years. Training was ended so swiftly after the Council vote on By-Law 546 that a classroom full of drivers who were half-way through the 17-day training program were dismissed from class and told to leave because training had been cancelled and was no longer required.

On October 1^st, Wong-Tam introduced the Motion at City Council which was referred to the General Government and Licensing Committee, where she reminded Committee members of the preventable death of Nicholas Cameron in an Uber on the Gardiner Expressway in 2018.

Councillor Josh Matlow asked the Committee whether Council could not simply direct staff to stop issuing licenses until the training program is implemented. “If we are willing to delay simply asking staff to ‘consider’ something, what does that say about our commitment to safety?” Matlow asked. “Further delay sends the signal that we’re not willing to make even the minimum effort to ensure the citizens of Toronto.”