Canadian cabbies call off St Patricks Day strike

A threatened taxi strike in Newfoundland, on St Patricks Day has been averted after discussions with Service Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh 

Cabbies from the Canadian province have been angered by the rising cost of insuring their vehicle after Facility Association had increased their premiums by 18.6%, this was on the back of a 30% increase in third-party liability insurance for taxi drivers.

This increase is the fifth rise in five years and the financially beleaguered cabbies are hamstrung as Facility Association are the only company that will insure taxi drivers in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Taxi drivers in the province are asking for a removal of the 15% sales tax as on insurance as well as a halt on any further insurance increases.

The Public Utilities Board has launched a study into taxi insurance, with the results of that study imminent.