Family of woman killed by taxi wary of coming changes to Ottawa taxi industry
The parents of a 25-year-old woman who was dragged by a taxi to her death in 2005 say they're worried the upcoming bylaw shake-up to Ottawa's taxi industry will reverse any positive change that came after their daughter's death.
Sarah McCarthy died in November 2005 after she was dragged more than a kilometre by a West-Way Taxi van, following an argument with the driver.
Her death prompted several changes to make the taxi industry safer, including security cameras inside taxis and conflict resolution training for the city's cab drivers.
But starting in September, app-based ride-hailing services such as Uber will not be required to have security cameras, and drivers won't need to enroll in Algonquin College's taxi course.
'They've opened up a can of worms'
"I just think that they've opened up a can of worms for a lot more tragedy," Sarah's father, Sean McCarthy, told CBC News at his home in Richmond, Ont.
"I think they're just looking for trouble … by repealing all of that information," said McCarthy.
CBC contacted the McCarthy family after learning about efforts to have a new park named after Sarah in Richmond, Ont., where she lived and worked.
Her parents said they're "overwhelmed" a local developer wants to create a park to commemorate their daughter, but their excitement is tempered by the coming bylaw changes.
"I just don't want it to happen to anybody else's daughter or son," said McCarthy.
That sentiment was echoed by the president of West-Way Taxi — the company which operated the vehicle involved in Sarah's death.
President of taxi company shares McCarthy family's dread
"We had to have such an awful thing happen to Sarah, and then … the industry learned, and everybody learned as a result of it, and now the city is taking a giant step backwards," Richard Szirtes told CBC News.
Szirtes added he thinks a park dedication would be a "great tribute" to Sarah's life, but he said any positives that came from the inquest after her death "certainly are being lost."
"It is ironic this is all sort of happening at this time when … we're trying to commemorate a person who, you know, although they died tragically, we hoped to gain some positive … out of it. And now … it's all been legislated mostly away."
City officials are expected to debate the possible park dedication during the agriculture and rural affairs committee meeting next week.
Ottawa's new taxi regulations are set to take effect Sept. 30.
