Prince George Taxi Ltd. is one of 51 B.C. taxi companies to receive provincial funding to help offset the costs of providing wheelchair-accessible taxi services.
Since January, the province has provided $2.6 million to companies, including $20,805 to Prince George Taxi, through the Passenger Transportation Accessibility Program Maintenance Rebate. The program offers funding to offset the costs associated with maintaining and operating wheelchair-accessible taxi services.
"Reducing the costs of maintaining wheelchair-accessible taxis will keep existing vehicles on the road in good condition and encourage more supply," Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said, in a statement issued on Monday. "It will also make it easier for companies to recruit and retain drivers for these vehicles, making sure more people will have access to these specialized taxis provincewide.
The program has helped support the operation of 400 wheelchair-accessible cabs across the province. Additional funding is planned to reduce the cost of buying, converting and operating wheelchair-accessible taxis. "The ability to access wheelchair-accessible taxis when needed should never be a hit-and-miss endeavour,” Neil Belanger said. Belanger is the CEO of the Indigenous Disability Canada/British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society. “Inclusive and accessible communities always have access to reliable and accessible transportation for all people.”