Mammoliti says city should put moratorium on collection of taxi licencing fees

CP24.com
Dec. 10, 2015
By Chris Fox

A city councillor who has been vocal in his opposition to Uber is calling for a moratorium on taxi licencing fees while the city drafts new regulations to cover the entire ground transportation industry.

Currently, the holders of a standard taxi cab plate pay an annual renewal fee of more than $1,200 while all taxi drivers are required to pay an annual licence renewal fee of $329.43.

Speaking with CP24 on Thursday, Ward 7 Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti said he plans to table a motion at the next licencing and standards committee meeting that would put the collection of those fees on hold while city staff work to draft new regulations that aim to address the regulations surrounding both taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber.

“Unless the taxi industry gets a bit of relief they are not going to be able to compete,” he said. “I think we have to get those fees removed and do it as quickly as possible.”

Mammoliti’s comments come one day after hundreds of taxi drivers blocked city streets and tied up traffic as part of a massive protest against Uber that drew condemnation from the city’s mayor and police chief.

In the wake of the protest, Mammoliti told CP24 that he had intended to table his motion at today’s council meeting but decided against doing so after being warned by city staff that it would be ruled out of order.

Mammoliti added that the motion he plans to table at the licencing and standards committee will also call for the expedition of enforcement against Uber drivers, who are currently in violation of the city’s bylaw.

Mayor John Tory has previously said that the city has already filed 192 charges against Uber drivers and that staff are doing their best to enforce existing bylaws which effectively ban the service.