Blind man’s case set for mediation
A Saskatoon man’s human rights complaint against a cab company he says denied him service because of his guide dog is scheduled for mediation next week.
Mike Simmonds, 47, is legally blind, and his guide dog Graham is never far from his side. He says on three occasions, including two earlier this month, Comfort Cabs drivers dispatched to pick him up told him they wouldn’t let the dog into their taxis “for religious reasons” or asked him to wait for a “pet friendly” cab.
Comfort Cab operations manager Cliff Kowbel said company policy is to allow service animals in taxis and he is reviewing trip information to determine exactly what happened.
The first time, Simmonds says he protested with the driver and followed up with management, who apologized, but then it happened two more times, he said.
“It was after standing out in the cold an extra 20 minutes while it snowed that I got the ball rolling. I shouldn’t have to argue my way into a cab or any public place.”
The drivers who declined service did offer to call another taxi to immediately pick up him and his dog, but he feels he shouldn’t be treated differently because of his disability.
“If there is a part of your job that you can’t do for some personal reason, then you shouldn’t take the job,” he said.
Simmonds filed a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission on Nov. 17. It’s set for mediation on Wednesday. Businesses are required to accommodate people and their guide dogs unless it presents “an undue hardship” such as a health risk, according to the commission’s website.
The company has apologized to Simmonds several times and mediation will hopefully settle the dispute, Kowbel said.
“If the driver is allergic to pets and tells the customer he’ll call another cab right away, is that refusing service?” he said. “If I force him to take the fare and he’s violently allergic, is that a safe way to drive?”
He added management has not heard about drivers refusing service based on religious reasons.
“That’s never come up ever with any driver,” he said, adding that if he did start screening potential hires based on religion, he’d be exposed to another human rights complaint.
“I’ve tried to do everything possible for Mike. If he wants to go down this route, we’ll deal with it there,” Kowbel said.
“I hope he wants to settle this as much as I do.”
The issue might be moot if city council passes proposed changes to its taxi bylaws.
A draft of the city’s new taxi bylaws states that a taxi driver must “permit a passenger with a disability to be accompanied by his or her service animal in the taxi.”
Simmonds said he gave Comfort Cabs an opportunity to ensure people with disabilities are accommodated, but the problem persisted.
“It’s not like I gave them one chance and went running to the human rights commission,” he said.
“I’d rather be off having coffee with friends than talking to the media.”