newinsideBy CHUCK CHIANG
Today staff
Thursday December 06, 2007
Taxi drivers who refused service to a blind visitor accompanied by a guide dog have no excuses for their actions, municipal officials and leaders from local cultural groups said Wednesday.
The response comes after an Edmonton woman, in town for a workshop on behalf of a provincial government group, could not find a cab that would take both her and her guide dog to her hotel Sunday evening. A good samaritan eventually gave her a ride.
“That’s a total shame (on the cab drivers),” said Mohamed Bihi, president of the Wood Buffalo Somali Cultural Association, who formerly worked as a taxi driver. “This is not a pleasure dog. This is a guide dog, it’s basically the eyes for the person, and it should be treated as a human being.”
Both municipal and provincial law say a driver cannot refuse service because of a guide dog. The only exception is for those with documented allergies and the exemption requires certification from specialists.
But the owner of one of the cab companies said some drivers refuse service to dogs based on religion.
A significant number of local taxi drivers are Somali-Canadians, many of whom are Muslims.
Imam Ali Jomha of Markaz Ul Islam, Fort McMurray’s mosque, said that many Muslims do consider dog saliva unclean, but added that drivers must consider guide dogs to be a different part of the equation.
“If it’s a normal dog, you have the right to refuse, just like a store owner can refuse dogs from getting into their store,” Imam Jomha said. “But guide dogs are a necessity. Islam is based on tolerance, and that’s our advice to drivers.
“If the drivers called us (to ask if they’re allowed to carry guide dogs), that lady would have gotten a ride,” he added.
Wood Buffalo regional council had a workshop Tuesday night, and the taxi issue was broached during the meeting.
Coun. John Vyboh said he was shocked when he heard of the incident.
“I’ve taken the cab from the airport many times, and they’ve (drivers) always been very friendly and polite,” Vyboh said, adding that it may be a case of regional council needing to better inform taxi companies about bylaws.
“Something like this really brings to light our constant need to communicate what’s on the book,” he said.
Coun. Mila Byron (who is not blind or handicapped) said she’s transported her pet dog in a cab, adding that she doesn’t understand why someone else couldn’t do the same.
“If I’ve done it before, obviously, they should apply their policies evenly,” Byron said.
Coun. Sharon Clarkson, speaking on behalf of Mayor Melissa Blake, said council will recommend sending letters to cab companies reinforcing the municipal bylaw.
Clarkson added she has had several opportunities to talk to Diane Bergeron, the woman who was refused service and an official with the Premier’s Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
“Any opportunity to educate the public is good,” Clarkson said, noting that there are discussions underway that may involve Bergeron coming back to speak to local groups.
Imam Jomha said he will be discussing the issue with his group during Friday’s scheduled prayer.
“They’re (drivers) good people,” he said. “They just misunderstood (the rules).”
For his part, Bihi said the municipality should consider seminars in addition to letters.
“People have to know what the fines are,” he said. “We’re a big city now, it’s not a small town anymore, and drivers have to know what rules are there.”
Source: Today's Fort McMurray, Dec 06, 2007