Probably the best example, for me, about reverse cultural insensitivity, is the taxi industry. Until about five years ago it was basically a ‘white’ dominated industry which includes First Nations people. We recently had an influx from Africa through the hiring practices of Maple Leaf Pork who like to hire from overseas and put people on a short leash. After the two year mandatory work for the pork plant a number left and collectively started a taxi company. As in any service industry the ‘customer is always right’ and when you cannot understand a direction, make change in a simple decimal system and are generally rude to the customer you don’t start out well. As the owner of another company I heard the complaints daily and had customers ask if we had — drivers and if so send someone else.

Yet if we approached any agency responsible for the industry we were told we were infringing on their human rights. It took a year to get a convicted rapist and sexual attacker out of one cab. The owner was powerless and the City was useless. They did suspend one of my drivers for too many speeding violations, none of which were in our cabs.