Thousands of taxi drivers are expected to stage a traffic-snarling protest in Toronto on the same weekend the NBA All-Star game is expected to attract international attention to the city.
The United Taxi Workers Association has provided few details, but says some kind of disruptive action leading to delays on major roadways into the city could start Friday. The weekend is already expected to be busy in Toronto, as the city plays host to the NBA All-Star game and related events. The Canadian International Auto Show also takes place in the downtown area from Friday to Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after a group meeting, spokesperson Paul Sekhon said there will be several slow-moving processions across the Greater Toronto Area, making their way downtown.
Taxi drivers held a similar protest in December, using vehicles to block major routes into downtown Toronto for hours. The 12-hour protest caused gridlock across the city, and only ended when the Toronto police chief agreed to meet with representatives.
"This time it will be more vehicles than last time," Sekhon said. He told reporters that taxi drivers will be accompanied by their family members in their own cars, which will spread out across the roads to block traffic.
"We have nothing left to lose and there's no sympathy from city officials, including the mayor," Sekhon said.
The protest is meant to urge city officials to enforce the laws regarding UberX in Toronto. UberX, Uber Canada's most popular service, has been operating in Toronto for more than a year. The service connects app users with people who have signed up as drivers, using their own vehicles.
The service claims that UberX is a communication service, not a cab company, and therefore exempt from taxi regulations. As a result, drivers working for UberX don't have to purchase taxi licences or complete the required taxi-training program.
Similar protests have been held in cities across Canada including Ottawa, Montreal and Edmonton.
Last month, the Alberta capital became the first Canadian city to pass regulations for ride-hailing companies like Uber. Experts said they believe the new laws may become a framework for other cities to follow.
