Toronto taxi cab drivers stage morning protest

The city is kicking cab drivers to the curb in favour of Uber, the president of a cab drivers' association said at aWednesday morning protest.

TheUnited Taxiworkers Association, as well as severalother taxi groups, are staginga protest at the East York Civic Centre at Coxwell and Mortimer Avenues this morning. The group represents around 3,500 drivers in the GTA.

• Uber is now licensed to operate in Toronto, but cabbies call it 'a political stunt'

The drivers are upset with how the city has handled Uber, the ride-hailing company that's cut into cab drivers' profits. Yesterday, the city announced Uber has now been licensed as a Private Transportation Company (PTC) the first such license in Canada, according to city officials.

At the protest, TaxiworkerspresidentPaulSekhon blasted the city for not protecting traditional cab drivers who have been paying into the system.

"They should have respect for us,' Sekhon told the dozens of cab drivers in attendance.

"We're here to do a full time job and provide food and put it on the table for our families."

Sekhon also took a shot at Uber drivers in the city who are driving as a secondary job, calling them "jokers." He also said if Uber is going to operate as a PTC, it shouldn't be using drivers who haven't had their backgrounds checked out by the city.

City officials have said it could be late September before Uber's drivers are licensed.

Cab drivers wore yellow shirts with "No 2 tier system" written on the back.Many in attendance also called for TraceyCook, the city's executive director of licensing and standards, to resign over the way the Uber issue has been handled.

Uberdrivers to get licenses

The United Taxi Workers blasted the city's announcement on Tuesday, saying it sends the wrong message to traditional cab drivers.

Wednesday morning's protest remained peaceful and didn't block roads or harm the public.

Sekhon said the cab industry isn't seeking special treatment, but rather that the city follow its own bylaws something he said should also keep the public safe.