Region calling on Queen’s Park for Uber regulations

stcatharinesstandard.ca
Jan. 14, 2016
By Maryanne Firth

Niagara Region is looking to drive change at the provincial level.

Council is calling on the province to develop ridesharing legislation to regulate companies such as Uber in Ontario.

Grimsby Coun. Tony Quirk initiated the call to action with a motion during Thursday night’s council meeting.

While he stressed he respects the work being done by the Niagara Regional Police services board to find a solution to the issue that is “Niagara-centric,” he believes the discussion needs to be had at the provincial level.

He fears each community solving the problem on its own terms will result in “a patchwork of regulations across the province.”

“That does not make good business sense for companies that want to come in and take a look at it.”

The motion asked that legislation development include engagement with affected municipalities, taxi companies, limousine services, insurance companies, law enforcement, consumers, ridesharing companies and drivers.

It also asks that changes be made to modernize the Insurance Act, the Highway Traffic Act, the Public Vehicles Act and any other relevant provincial legislation to “enable consumer choice and empower people to make money from their personal vehicle through ridesharing.”

Quirk said the current taxi system is “hamstrung by regulations that are outdated.”

He’s hopeful the province can “find ways to modernize the system and take advantage of new technologies.”

“The new technology is there. Consumers are making the choice already to use these new products and new business models and government has to be able to respond as quickly as possible.”

Niagara Falls Coun. Bob Gale put his support behind the motion while emphasizing that the issue of ridesharing regulations is under review by the police board, which he chairs.

“We are in motion with our lawyer looking at ways of amalgamating things.”

Gale wants to see the province or a metropolis like Toronto take action, but “things are moving slowly.”

St. Catharines Coun. Andy Petrowski, vice-chair of the police board, said the board is looking at whether regulations could create a “peaceful co-existence” between taxi and ridesharing companies.

But that will require a “level playing field” for both parties, he said.

From a policing perspective, driver and vehicle safety, as well as insurance compliance would be required, Petrowski said. The deregulation of the quota system on taxi licences could also be considered, he added.

Petrowski felt a “patchwork system” will exist regardless of whether provincial regulations are put in place because Niagara is a unique jurisdiction with police overseeing the licensing of taxis, tow trucks and adult entertainers. That responsibility typically lies in the hands of municipalities, he said.

Unsure of the decision the police board will make, he said it’s likely a resolution will be had in the next two months.

“Is it Uber in or Uber out?” he said, adding the latter would cause significant enforcement issues.