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The Deputation I did not make

The Accessible Fund whereby one segment of the industry is MADE to pay for another is just insane

By Andy Réti

Holocaust educator and retired Taxi driver Andy Reti. Photo: supplied

For over 30 years, I was making deputations at City Hall in the mistaken belief that just “this time they will listen.” They (the councillors) never did. Their mind was always made up and we couldn’t possibly confuse them with facts. It was a charade. They called us for “input” and never included any of our suggestions in their report. Their report always got rubber stamped by City Hall. Our time, expertise and effort were always IGNORED.

On December 10, 2024, against my better judgement, I did show up City Hall where I was all set to deliver my comments on the latest “REPORT.” The report was one of the first items on the agenda and the room was filled with taxi and uber people. Our “dear Mayor Chow” moved it to after lunch. I got so upset that as I was leaving the room, I told her that she should be ashamed of herself and reminded her that when she was on the limousine committee, they used to pull the same stunts. Sometimes they made us wait the whole day without any concern that we took time off work to be at City Hall.

Usually, I look for items that are not addressed in the report and I wasn’t disappointed. There was so much that should be commented but could not be done in a three-minute deputation.

 I chose the following topics: History of cabs in Toronto. The rational and usage the of issuing formulae. City Hall mandates and the idiotic suggestions of new meters and a new dispatch system.

HISTORY

In 1957, Toronto amalgamated 13 area municipalities to become officially Metro Toronto. This created 1503 Metro Toronto taxi licences (plates). In around 1962-63 these licences were allowed to be sold on the open market. Soon, it was realized that additional plates were needed to serve the growing population, and an issuing formula was created along with a waiting list for the plates. So, there were two ways to obtain a plate, either by purchase or according to the City “a reward for your service” and to serve as your pension.” BTW, my PENSION is sitting on the shelf for the last six years costing me money for the annual renewal.

THE ISSUING FORMULA

It became obvious that taxi business is 24/7 and additional cabs and drivers were needed. As a result, a formula was created to serve the needs of the growing population. It was one licence per 950 people. This worked for a while until City Hall changed it by various methods including The Ambassador Program and the ill-conceived wheel-chair accessible program. However, all this pales in comparison to the stupidity of allowing uber to enter the market without any control or an ISSUING FORMULA by City Hall. The current December report is proposing a cap of 80,00 for uber WITHOUT EVER EXAMINING how many (if any) are needed. In the late 1980’s the taxi industry commissioned its own report which stated that, we already had an oversupply of plates, since the issuing formula was changed numerous times by then.

CITY HALL mandates and directives; in 1989, as a result of another of the many “consultations”, an actual positive outcome (ignored of course) occurred. Four guiding principles for the taxi industry were introduced. One of them stated that a taxi owner has the right to expect a return on HIS INVESTMENT. Well, I am still waiting.

WHEELCHAIR SERVICE AND ACCESSABILTY FUND

According to Ontario law, it is the City of Toronto who is responsible for financing this service NOT AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER. Over the years the taxi industry, especially my friend Gerry Manley sent NUMEROUS LETTERS illustrating this point. The creation of the Accessible Fund whereby one segment of the industry is MADE to pay for another is just insane. The most egregious component of the current report is the proposed subsidy to any brave (naïve) soul who wants to get into this part of the VHF industry thinking that they will make money. I am waiting to see how many people will be foolish enough to do it. This of course leads to the proposed new meters and dispatch system. Both of these items are totally unnecessary and a waste of money.

The above mentioned were to be a verbal presentation. At the end of my deputations, I always challenge councillors to ask me questions. In 30 years, it has never happened. Perhaps, had I stayed, it may have.

Now, I will never know.