Oakville makes move to regulate companies like Uber

InsideHalton.com
Dec. 17, 2015
Julia Le  

With Uber rolling in Oakville — and causing protests in Toronto that impacted traffic for an entire day — the Town of Oakville is examining licensing bylaws to review its options.

In 2016, it will look at ways to regulate transportation network companies such as Uber in 2016.

At Monday’s council meeting, Oakville councillors gave the green light to the review.

That came in the wake of asking staff, earlier this year, to review taxicab licensing regulations — with a view to the growing impact app-based, ride-sharing technology companies such as Uber, are having on the taxicab industry.

Staff met with the public, taxicab industry and Uber representatives as part of that consulation process, stated a press release.

"Council has received feedback from the public," said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. "Staff will now provide us with options for licensing emerging technologies that are impacting the taxicab industry."

The start of 2016 will see Town staff looking at the options to regulate transportation network companies — considering community and stakeholder impact while focusing on health, safety and consumer protection.

Options available, include: amending the existing taxicab by-law or creating new regulations specific to ride-sharing technology companies.

A number of municipalities in Ontario, such as Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo and Hamilton are also reviewing their taxicab bylaws because of the impact Uber is having on its communities.

At the provincial level, Bill 131, Opportunities in the Sharing Economies Act, 2015, is also currently at the Ontario Legislature Standing Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs. It would create provincial regulation of transportation network companies (including Uber) where no municipal regulations exist and would limit municipal licensing powers.