Winnipeg Your essential daily news
MARY KILLS PEOPLE
SOCIOPATH OR SAINT? YOU DECIDE
metroLIFE
High -3°C/Low -6°C Chance of flurries
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017
The Ducks’ Jared Boll and the Jets’ Chris Thorburn fight during the first period on Monday. TREVOR HAGAN/ THE CANADIAN PRESS
Taxi safety first steps
TRANSPORTATION
Better training proposed as advocates, taxi industry meet Stephanie Taylor
Metro | Winnipeg
ANOTHER
BLOW Jets lose 3-2 to Ducks metroSPORTS
Winnipeg taxi drivers may soon find themselves undertaking new sensitivity training to ensure passengers — specifically women — feel safer in cabs. The Winnipeg Taxicab Alliance, which represents the local cab industry, recently met with the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) and the Social Planning Council (SPC) to discuss ways the industry could make passengers feel safer. Last month, an independent review of the cab industry pinpointed safety as a major concern amongst respondents. The report said that 58 per cent of the respondents surveyed said they felt safe in a taxi, with Indigenous respondents even less likely to feel safe. On Monday, alliance spokes-
person Michael Diamond said of the 39 reported incidents hapin the meeting, it was expressed pened while passengers were takthat drivers need better training ing a cab in the Jefferson area. Of on customer service. the 11 reported incidents in 2016, Together, he said, the indus- three took place in Jefferson. try wants to work with the SCO “Cultural competency” needs and SPC to develop an education to be a cornerstone of the new curriculum and in-depth training training, according to Kate plan to address concerns around Kehler, executive director of the passenger safety. SPC, who noted there’s a “cul“One ride with any sort of ture clash” happening between level of customer service that is cab drivers and passengers that anything less than exceptional is needs to be remedied. not acceptable for the taxicab inShe said many cab passengers dustry,” said Diaare among socimond. ety’s most vul“I believe by nerable, such as members of the and large taxis The dispatch in Winnipeg are Indigenous comsafe.” companies often munity, seniors, Through the women with learn about children, and Freedom of Information and complaints through newcomers. Protection of the media, which is Many drivers are also Privacy Act, the just not helpful. newcomers. Winnipeg Police Michael Diamond “They’re new Service released data showing here, they’re trythat since 2013, there have been ing very hard to get their feet 39 reported cases where cab driv- under them, and they’re workers were accused of sexual as- ing very hard. Oftentimes they’ve sault, an indecent act or other been given very negative stereosuspicious activity. types around the Indigenous The police data lists 31 areas community,” she said. of the city where incidents were “The problem is though bereported to have occurred. Five cause they are quite literally in
1,000
the driver’s seat, they’re the ones in power.” Besides new training for drivers, passengers could feel safer if a cabbie’s ID was posted in a vehicle and the complaint process with police and the provincial taxicab board was streamlined so drivers could be pulled off the road faster, Diamond said. The taxicab board did not respond to Metro’s interview request by deadline. Christine Brouzes, who administers a Facebook group that offers rides for donations, said she has seen a steady increase in women signing up for the service, which brands itself as a safe alternative to taxis. Since the page, Ikwe (Women helping women safe ride), launched last January, she said more than 14,700 members have signed up, with around 60 volunteers providing up to 2,000 rides per month. Besides reports of assault, Brouzes says she’s heard “hundreds and hundreds” of stories from women about experiencing emotional harm from cab drivers. “Many women have told us stories that they’ve been asked by the taxi driver if they want to pay ‘another way,’” she said.
$ FINANCING ON SELECT MODELSΦ
ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
BONUS ON SELECT MODELS†
FIND SPECIAL KIA OFFERS ON PAGE 7