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Draft vehicle-for-hire bylaw under industry scrutiny

Thunder Bay city council hears three deputations from transportation stakeholders who want to see changes to new vehicle-for-hire bylaw that would replace existing taxi regulations.
Lawrence Deswiage
Driverseat Thunder Bay owner Lawrence Deswiage speaks to Thunder Bay city council on Monday, March 19, 2018. (Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY – The city’s long-awaited new vehicle-for-hire bylaw could finally be mere months from implementation but industry stakeholders are still pushing for changes.

Thunder Bay city council on Monday night heard from a trio of transportation service owners, who each have individual concerns about the framework that would set the playing field for paid rides in the city.

The city has been embarking on a multiyear process to modernize the regulations, which would shift oversight of taxicab and ridesharing services from the Thunder Bay Police Service to municipal bylaw enforcement.

The draft bylaw, which was put forward last year, would eliminate set fare rates and remove the cap on individual licences. It also defines specifications for the condition of vehicles, including that they be less than seven years old and have fewer than 400,000 kilometres.

Janice McLean, the Thunder Bay franchise owner of Driving Miss Daisy, said the requirement that vehicles be less than seven years old would have a detrimental impact.

“Since we provide so much more than transportation, our vehicles are used substantially less over times than traditional vehicles for hire,” McLean said, adding the model year requirement would force all three of their vehicles to be swapped out.

“The wheelchair accessible vehicle will have less than 100,000 kilometres and both other vehicles will have less than 250,000 kilometres. All of them have been meticulously maintained and are definitely road worthy.”

The draft bylaw has other provisions that satisfy the safety of vehicles and protection of the public, McLean insisted.

“This bylaw already twice per year requires mechanical inspections, has a 400,000 kilometre limit and a clause that simply states upon renewal all vehicles must be clean, in good repair and no mechanical defects,” McLean said.

“The actual year of the vehicle has absolutely no significance.”

Coun. Brian McKinnon, who chairs the taxi subcommittee, understood the argument.

“There might be some legitimacy to that because we did go across the province and find out what the norm was and it was 400,000 kilometres or seven years,” McKinnon said after the meeting. “In this case maybe she’s got a very valid point.”

Driverseat Thunder Bay owner Lawrence Deswiage said one of their features is provided designated driving, guaranteeing a person can get home without leaving their vehicle behind. The Thunder Bay operation set a company record this past New Year’s Eve, providing more than 250 people with a way home safely.

Deswiage said the nature of the service using drivers who want to earn extra money while working flexible hours and is not meant to be a full-time job. The new licensing requirements, which could cost up to an additional $175 on top of the $75 for a driver’s abstract and criminal background check, might mean they can’t find new drivers.

“The added barrier of having to get a licence from the city will make many people thinking of driving for us think twice or not even think about it at all,” Deswiage said, adding some will work a couple times a week or only a couple times a year.

“If we don’t have drivers we don’t have a designated driving service. If we don’t have a designated driving service we’ll be out of business. If we’re out business there will be more impaired drivers on the road.”

Kasper Transportation founder Kasper Wabinski said he doesn’t believe the bylaw is ready, expressing concerns with the ridesharing industry.

McKinnon said any changes to the bylaw approved by the committee would have to be written by the city’s legal department, likely pushing its return to council past the current tentative May date.



About the Author: Matt Vis

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