Local cab company targets ride-shares in a new buy-Canadian campaign

U Need A Cab has unveiled a new “Buy Canadian” campaign designed to discourage London riders from using American ride-share apps

A longtime London taxi operation is waving the flag as part of the buy-Canadian push.

The U-Need-A cab company is displaying ‘Support Local, Support Canadian’ decals in the back windows of their vehicles.

It’s part of a campaign to draw attention to the fact that ride-sharing apps are predominantly American owned.

Roger Caranci is an advocate for the London taxi community, “When you’re using rideshare apps, 70 per cent of your dollar - every 70 cents of that dollar that you spend - is going to U.S.-based companies. Going directly to them. The rest of money will remain here with the driver. The difference is that (with cabs) 100 per cent of your dollar spent in London, stays in London.”

U-Need-A London manager Paul Gill points to the long history the company has in the community, “We are a proud Canadian company serving London for over 60 years.”

Gill says the taxi operation benefits the community in a number of ways, “Many new Canadians have been able to start a new life (in London) because the money made here.”

Caranci says the desire to support Canadian companies has grown immensely since U.S. President Donald Trump launched the latest exchange of tit-for-tat tariffs, “It’s a big, big thing that I think people are starting to catch on to now. They want to understand who the companies are that don’t support the country, and the companies are that do support the country and the local economy.”