TORONTO --
Long before COVID-19, Toronto's taxi industry had been struggling to cope with skyrocketing insurance premiums and the rise of ride-sharing apps. But as the pandemic worsens in the city, a growing number of drivers are parking their vehicles for good.
Since January 2020, the number of licensed taxi and limousine drivers in the City of Toronto has decreased by 25 per cent.
Abdul Mohamoud, CEO of Co-op Cabs, sat down with CTV's Your Morning to discuss the challenges that taxi drivers face.
"The taxi industry has been under pressure, quite some time for multiple issues," Mohamoud said Wednesday.
When Ontario issued a provincewide stay-at-home order last November, Mohamoud said it was as if someone "pulled the parking brake on our industry," as taxis were only serving essential trips. Co-op cabs had 1,100 vehicles on the road prior to the pandemic. Today, the company is only operating 200.