THUNDER BAY – As the process to modernize the oversight of the taxi industry nears its end stage, those behind the new bylaw remain optimistic it will drive improvements in the local vehicle-for-hire industry.
Coun. Brian McKinnon, who has spearheaded the years-long process to update the industry’s legal framework, provided a verbal update to the Thunder Bay Police Services Board at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.
The responsibility for overseeing the taxi industry in Thunder Bay currently falls on the police services board, which is one of the only municipalities in Ontario to still operate with that arrangement. The police services board has expressed a desire to shift the responsibility onto the city.
A draft of the vehicle for hire and designated driving services bylaw was presented to city council as a first report earlier this month, though the general manager of a local taxi company was among those who expressed opposition with some of the proposed changes.
“Our job is to address the needs of both the taxi owners – whether that’s an individual owner or a company – and the riders,” McKinnon told local media following the meeting, adding the hope was the bylaw could be a “win-win.”
McKinnon said the process was undertaken to address longstanding complaints about service as well as address the increasing prevalence of ridesharing services and mobile phone-based applications to hire independent vehicles and drivers.
He said, for example, the proposal to eliminate the limit on the number of taxi licences in the city is hoped to ensure there are more vehicles available during times of high demand.
“We’re hoping competition will address that. That’s one of the reasons we have removed the cap on licences,” McKinnon said.
“It’s not just the airport. It’s after hours at bars. I’ve received countless calls about that, ‘I can’t get a cab, I can’t get a cab.’ So now what’s their option, jump in the car when they’re drunk and drive home? That was one of the motivating factors.”
The success of any licence holder would depend on whether people use the service, he added.
“For them, it’s a livelihood. If they’re not there at 2 o’clock in the morning they’re missing a whole bunch of business,” McKinnon said. “Hopefully that’s the kind of motivation new licensees will have and we’ll try to ensure that’s enacted.”
If that fails, there could be other measures taken to require vehicles to be in service when they’re needed.
“Maybe we can make some very specific parameters, saying if you want a licence you have to be on 24/7 and we will monitor that,” McKinnon said. “If you don’t, then maybe you’re going to lose your licences.”
McKinnon said the review committee that has set the direction for the bylaw has recommended adding a new officer to the city’s bylaw enforcement department who would be solely responsible for overseeing the vehicle-for-hire industry.
As well, the bylaw would call for the formation of a small committee to handle and respond to complaints and other issues.
“We have to be able to police this. Obviously it’s a very, very critical factor. If we don’t, then what’s the point?” McKinnon said.
The draft bylaw is expected to return before council on May 29.
