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Police board recommends accessible cabs be mandatory

A Sault Ste. Marie man who currently uses the ParaBus to get to and from appointments is welcoming a resolution by Police Services Board to require wheelchair-accessible taxi cabs in the city.

A Sault Ste. Marie man who currently uses the ParaBus to get to and from appointments is welcoming a resolution by Police Services Board to require wheelchair-accessible taxi cabs in the city.

“I waste approximately three hours every day waiting time for ParaBus and my (dialysis) machine time is four or five hours. Because of them my day is 10 hours long three days a week,” said Malcolm Morrison, who also requires a wheelchair to get around.

He added, “We have enough barriers in front of us right now. Transportation should not be a barrier. I deserve the same rights as anyone else to come and go from places as I choose.”

Morrison was one of about two dozen people who attended the public portion of the Police Services Board meeting Thursday, many of whom were in wheelchairs.

During the meeting the board passed a resolution recommending amendments to the taxi bylaw that would require taxi companies to have wheelchair-accessible cabs on-hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

One wheelchair-accessible cab is required for companies that maintain a fleet of 35 taxis or less. If a company maintains more than 35 it is required to have two in service at all times.

For comparison, there are seven wheelchair-accessible taxi cabs in the city of Sudbury, while Thunder Bay has 21.

Timmins and North Bay each have one wheelchair-accessible cab which operate within their respective cities.

During the meeting, Mayor Christian Provenzano said he wasn’t aware that there were no wheelchair-accessible cabs in the city when he took office.

“I think this is a really important decision we have to make and support. We should have wheelchair-accessible taxis in Sault Ste. Marie,” he said.

The proposed changes were brought to the board by the Accessibility Advisory Committee and will go to council to decide if it will be approved as an amendment to the bylaw.

“The Police Services Board can’t actually change the bylaw, that has to be done by council because it is a municipal bylaw,” said city solicitor Matthew Caputo.

He said it was important for the police to endorse the changes because they are the body who enforce the bylaw.

“Having the suggestion come from them carries a great deal of weight to council, who will ultimately make the decision,” said Caputo.

Butch Wilson, owner of Union Cab, expressed concerns about the cost of compliance with the proposed bylaw changes.

“This is not just the price of buying a van. This is doubling the price of a van for the wheelchair lift and doubling the insurance,” he said.

Cab companies are not allowed to charge more than their usual fare to people who require wheelchair-accessible transportation.

Wilson protested a suggestion that fares who require wheelchair-accessibility should be bumped to the top of the list.

“This van can be used for wheelchairs or it can be used to pick up groceries. What comes first?” asked Wilson.

“Service comes first, sir,” replied Provenzano.

“I’m glad the mayor seemed to be so positive and take the reigns to get this done. That’s great to see,” said Morrison immediately after the public portion of the board meeting.

“Everyone needs to be reminded they are one stoplight, one stop sign, one second from being exactly where I am,” he said.


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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