North Shore News – November 15, 2006:
A case potentially pitting rights of the disabled against religious beliefs will be heard by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal after a blind man from the North Shore who uses a guide dog to get around launched a complaint against North Shore Taxi.
Bruce Gilmour filed the complaint after a cab driver from North Shore Taxi refused to let his guide dog into the cab in January of this year. Gilmour, who says it’s not the first time he’s been refused service by a taxicab, is complaining that North Shore taxi discriminated against him on the basis of physical disability.
But the taxi driver, Behzad Saidy, is arguing his Muslim religious beliefs will not allow him to take dogs in his taxi, because Muslims can’t associate with dogs.
According to documents filed with the Human Rights Tribunal, North Shore Taxi said about half of their drivers are “unable to take animals in their taxis due to medical or religious reasons.”
#34, You are full of racist bull crap. That is quite simply NOT TRUE.
OFTLO
I don’t remember where you drove, I think it might have been Minneapolis. In many jurisdictions I believe there are regulations for getting a Cab License. Most of these regulations require not only a knowledge of the city, but also requirements on discrimination. I agree that the driver has the right to refuse a fare under most circumstances, that right doesn’t include discrimination on religious, disability, sex, race, religion, etc.
Where I grew up, cabbies had to take a test in order to obtain a license. I don’t know about North Vancouver though. I would believe that the British Columbia Human Rights laws would prohibit discrimination on the bases of having a guide dog.
Gilmour is quoted as saying the cabbie simply yelled out to him, “No Dogs! No Dogs!” and then drove off. I wonder if he actually knew Gilmour was blind?
If Islam has no restrictions about being in close contact with dogs, why do the Saudis not associate with or have them? Is it like the veil issue that has its roots more in custom than religious dogma? (There was a good joke potential in that last statement, wasn’t there?)
You’d think the cab associations and regulations would have already contemplated such scenarios and have rules on such things already in place. Or alternatively, each cabbie must make full disclosure, via a check list, of any restrictions – religious, health, etc. – that might be relevant to the job.
RBG
Much like abortion and gay marriage which do not appear in the Christian Bible, hatred or shunning of dogs is not in the Qur’aan, but is rather a matter of Shar’ia. This is just another example of how organized religion corrupts matters of spirtual unity with God into irrational hatred of people or creatures.
#43 – Or alternatively, each cabbie must make full disclosure, via a check list, of any restrictions – religious, health, etc. – that might be relevant to the job.
It’s not a job. Cabbies are their own bosses.
And I’m blown away that Republicans and/or conservatives are eager to regulate cab drivers. Or is it that you only oppose regulations that effects a chemical plant’s ability to dump toxins in a river or a CEOs ability to to be paid an 8 figure salary?
I’m not condoning this jack-ass cabbie’s actions… But you know… You just can’t tell these guys what to do. They don’t work for anyone but themselves.
45.
http://tinyurl.com/yaktyb
(2004) “The bylaw requires taxi drivers to complete both levels of the TaxiHost program, a two-part training program developed in 1994 by the Greater Vancouver Taxi Partnership Committee. It is already required by other municipalities in the GVRD.”
“North Shore advisory committee on disability issues chairwoman Connie Burns said most of her group’s members have had bad experiences with taxi service. Some drivers refuse to take guide dogs, communication can be difficult between customers who are hearing impaired and drivers whose first language isn’t English, some mobility units are not properly secured in the cab, waits for cabs are too long and some taxi cab drivers’ knowledge of local geography is poor, she said. ”
http://www.jibc.bc.ca/ptec/programs/TaxiHost/default.htm
“The Greater Vancouver Taxi Partnership Committee (GVTPC) developed TaxiHost in 1994 to help create a consistently high standard of taxicab service in the Greater Vancouver, British Columbia. The program includes applicant screening, training, and testing.”
http://taxi-reg.home.att.net/bctaxi.pdf
“Licensing and regulation of this industry occur primarily under the Motor Carrier Act and the Motor Vehicile Act. …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicab
Regulation:
“Both taxicabs and drivers are regulated to varying degrees in different places, from free-for-all to highly restrictive licensing schemes. In many countries, the number of taxis and the areas where they may operate are strictly controlled by a regulatory body. In regulated systems, a person must purchase a license or medallion if he or she wishes to own or operate a taxicab. In many jurisdictions, both owners and non-owning drivers of taxis are also tested and licensed by the police or the regulatory body. Police checks and more extensive background checks, training courses and chaperones are often used when drivers are asked to deal with special needs customers on a regular basis. See Taxicabs around the world for information about regulatory regimes in particular countries.”
RBG
#46 – Oh… Well in Canada…. I asked around and I was told Canada is a communist nation…
That’s why I take gypsy cabs everywhere I go
And really… Are you in support of all these regulations?
Convoluted bureaucratic regulation is the backbone of Democracy.
RBG
#48 – I cannot – and will not – argue against you on that point
You know… Despite the fact that you spend so much time being wrong, you are still invited to all my backyard barbeques and you are on the Christmas card list… permanantly
The cab driver was probably afraid of the dog. He could not find any other reason. Otherwise muslims have been keeping dogs even for hunting.
Rich, John Henri Allyn, Vic
You three are ignorant racist pricks. We are ALL immigrants here idiots. You three probably have KKK blood in you guys. We ALL have freedom of speech, including the cab driver. So get used to it. This is AMERICA
51. “We ALL have freedom of speech, including the cab driver.”
You’re right. Cab drivers have the right to speak their mind. But first, no one has any duty to listen. Second, they have no right to speak their mind while at work unless their employer lets them. And third, refusing to do their job is NOT speech, you ignorant bitch. God, you’re such a fucking moron!
If a cabbie refuses to pick up riders, he should quit or be fired. There is no other option.
to be a taxicab driver is a decent job, but to have the attitude, it depends on the person. not all drivers sucks!!!