Pickering looks to licence Uber, other ride share companies

DurhamRegion.com
Sept. 6, 2017
Kristen Calis

With ride share companies such as Uber operating in Pickering, the city plans to invoke some regulations in order to level the playing field.

The existing taxicab bylaw in Pickering prohibits the operation of transportation network companies (TNC’s), and must be amended if businesses such as Uber are going to be permitted to operate, according to a staff report.

During 2017 budget discussions in February, three taxi drivers spoke about the unfairness of licensing fees in Pickering.

Cab drivers pay around $3,600 each year to the city; Uber drivers currently pay nothing. The annual costs include a taxi plate licence for $2,000, and $1,000 for a clean air cab plate licence.

At the Sept. 5 executive committee meeting, councillors authorized staff to plan a public and industry stakeholder consultation meeting to gather feedback regarding proposed TNC regulations. Staff will then develop bylaw provisions and report back to council at the Nov. 6 executive committee meeting.

“I’m glad to see we’re bringing things on more of a level playing field,” said Ward 2 regional Coun. Bill McLean.

The City of Toronto introduced regulations governing TNCs in 2016. Toronto’s TNC provisions include the same licensing requirements that Pickering would require, such as a criminal reference check, insurance, driver’s abstract, and a vehicle safety standards report. Vehicle standards are also consistent with the maximum 10-year model year accepted through the city’s current bylaw.

But rather than licensing individual drivers like Toronto does, smaller municipalities are licensing the TNC with an annual and per trip fee. The TNC would be responsible for administering all licensing of drivers and ensuring compliance with the municipal bylaw. The staff report says this model significantly reduces the administrative burden on small municipalities that do not have sufficient administrative staff to process the licensing data required for individual TNC driver licensing.

“Most municipalities are going through a standardizing for the TNC and a fee per trip basis as well,” said Pickering’s manager of bylaw services Kim Thompson.

Thompson said when looking at other municipalities, such as Brampton, regulating TNC's has not greatly impacted business for taxi companies.

“It’s a completely different market that uses ride sharing apps than those who use taxi cabs," she said.