Regulate ride-sharing services, Region tells province

Consumers making choice to use services like Uber: Quirk

Niagarathisweek.com
Jan. 18, 2016
By Paul Forsyth

It’s time the province stepped in to regulate new rise-sharing services such as Uber, regional politicians say.

Even before Uber set up shop in Niagara in November, the Niagara Police Services Board - which licenses taxis, tow trucks and strippers in the region - started working on possible new licensing regulations.

Grimsby Coun. Tony Quirk brought a motion to regional council on Jan. 14 calling for provincial legislation to fill the regulatory void out there for the new generation of vehicles-for-hire in which people can arrange private drivers to pick them up using apps for smart phones.

Left up to individual cities and regions, that regulation could end up being a messy patchwork” that won’t be good for businesses, said Quirk.

“The new technology is there,” said Quirk. “Consumers are making the choice already to use these new products and these new business models. Government has to be ready to respond as quickly as possible.”

Quirk’s motion asks the province to work with municipalities, taxi companies, limousine services, insurance companies, police and consumers and ride-sharing companies to develop legislation, and to make changes as needed to modernize the Highway Traffic Act and other legislation. At present, taxi companies are “hamstrung” with regulations, Quirk said.

Niagara Falls Coun. Bob Gale, chair of the police board, said the board is working with its lawyer on possible regulations. While provincial action would be the best solution, Gale didn’t put much faith in that happening.

“We are not going anywhere with the province,” he said. “The province is not making any moves and they’re standing clear of it.”

St. Catharines Coun. Andy Petrowksi, vice-chair of the police board, said the board is exploring whether rules can create a “peaceful co-existence” between ride-sharing companies and taxi companies. But the board would want to ensure consumer protection in areas such as driver qualifications, vehicle safety and insurance, he said.

The police board could make some kind of decision within about two months, Petrowski said.

Regional council approved Quirk’s resolution, which will be sent to all Ontario municipalities for support, and to the premier, the Opposition leader, local MPPs and others.

In a presentation to the police board in members in September, Uber spokesman

Chris Schafer said there is a demand for the service in Niagara. The service was launched here in November.