Canadian taxi companies and ride-hailing services called on Toronto’s city council to incorporate the industry in the “Buy local, Buy Canadian” campaign in response to the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian products.
The companies also asked the council to ban U.S.-based ride-sourcing apps such as Uber and Lyft on city property and for city business.
In a letter to city council, managers of Toronto 1 Taxi, Beck Taxi, Co-op Cabs and Canadian ride-hailing platform HOVR, said investing in local services promotes regional economic growth.
The managers also expressed that U.S. tech companies like Uber have taken over too many Canadian markets by using lobbying efforts to reshape municipal rules governing vehicles-for-hire.
“Canadian companies can easily step in to connect Torontonians with their next ride home,” the letter said. “Consumers are stuck with a near-monopoly of U.S. companies that can surge prices with no limits.”
As the U.S. hit Canada with tariffs, Canadians are encouraged to buy locally, as businesses showcase Canadian products in their stores.
In a February meeting, council members unanimously endorsed a strategy for a “comprehensive, multi-faceted” initiative aimed at motivating residents and businesses to buy “locally made Canadian products and services” to safeguard Toronto and Ontario jobs from the effects of tariffs.
In an interview with the CBC, Kristine Hubbard, the operations manager for Beck Taxi Limited, said Toronto needs to do a better job promoting Canadian-based services around the city.
"Every taxi you see is a small independent, licensed business in the city, in this country, and so, I do think if we're talking about supporting local Canadian businesses, small businesses in particular, this is the perfect opportunity," she said.
Hubbard also said drivers who currently work for services such as Uber and Lyft could have a challenging time earning a living based on these apps.
"When you use the Uber app, you might pay $30, but the drivers are getting $12, and the rest is going out of our country," Hubbard said. "Let's stop supporting these giant tech companies who are siphoning money out of our country."
Even with these ride-sharing apps being American-based, many drivers across the city are Canadian citizens.
Caleb Woldemicheal, who has been an Uber driver for two years said, Canadians losing jobs would be a shame.
"I really don't understand it, I get Uber is American, but me and a lot of other people who work for the company are Canadian," he said. "I don't get why we would want Canadians to lose jobs for something we are not really in control of."
In December, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow returned a plan to limit the number of Uber and Lyft drivers in Toronto for more review, admitting the proposal created by city staff over the past year fell short.
City officials suggested capping the number of drivers for app-based ride-hailing services at 80,429 to mitigate the adverse effects of ride-hailing on traffic, emissions, and public transportation.
Many people around the city rely on these ride-sharing apps for transportation, so lowering the amount might hurt users.
Erika Michalos, a first-year student at Laurie University, said she uses the Uber app frequently and banning it would not help her daily life.
"I literally use Uber almost all the time cause it's cheaper than some of the other ways to get around the city," Michalos said. "Of course it would affect my life because I use it so much, so yes, I wouldn't want to stop using it."
In Toronto, ride-sharing apps such as Uber are genuinely cheaper than taxi rides, with users saving 50 per cent or more compared to a taxi fare for the same trip.
Michalos said she saves a ton of money by taking Uber instead of a more expensive taxi fare.
"Since I use it (Uber) so much, I'm obviously going to use the one that saves me the most money," Michalos Said.
