Mayor’s Mailbag – November 2023 Roundup – Taxi, Rideshare Update; Homelessness Supports; Union Burying Ground Update; & Public Park Washrooms

Mayor's Mailbag
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Welcome to the Mayor’s Mailbag – November 2023 roundup.The Mayor’s Monday Mailbag is a weekly initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office has launched to share answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Mailbag – November 2023 Roundup

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UPDATED ON TAXI & RIDESHARE SERVICESQUESTION:“Are there any updates on the City of Burlington’s licensing requirements for taxi and rideshare services?”ANSWER:At the Oct. 30, 2023 Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability (CSSRA) – Budget Committee meeting, Council received information regarding the state of taxi operations in the City. Council approved amendments to Bylaw 20-2009 (otherwise known as the “Public Vehicles Bylaw”) that delegated authority to staff to waive certain conditions that were preventing new taxi services from obtaining licences to operate in Burlington. The amendment was prompted by the closure of the main taxi service – Burlington Taxi.  The amendment was successful in attracting additional taxi service into the City as we now have 3 companies operating in Burlington.Staff will be conducting a review of all licensing bylaw and categories in 2024 – including taxi and rideshare businesses. Options for increasing accessible taxi licences will be a major focus as customer feedback has indicated a need in this area. Additional details will be presented in a staff report to Committee and Council in Q1 2024.Below are some frequently-asked-questions (FAQs) related to taxi and rideshare services in Burlington.ADDITIONAL RELATED FAQsQ: There are now three taxi companies licensed in the city. What, if anything, has changed around taxi licensing in Burlington in the last three years?A: The original plan was to create a new “public vehicle” bylaw. However, City staff determined the best path forward would be to consolidate licensing items into one by-law (currently there are 3 – Business Licensing, Public Vehicles, Adult Entertainment). There will be a staff report to Council in early 2024 outlining the workplan for a new consolidated Licensing Bylaw that merges the three bylaws listed. Staff will be making recommendations regarding the licensing of rideshare companies as part of the bylaw update.The temporary bylaw amendments issued in 2021 are still in place. There were two major hurdles with the existing bylaw. The first is that it would not allow a taxi company to operate in Burlington unless they had already been in operation in Burlington. There was a time when the taxi business was lucrative and there were multiple companies competing for the market share. It was not unusual for municipalities to have such clauses in their bylaws to protect local businesses. The second hurdle is the bylaw is based on an outdated business model that requires a taxi company to own the vehicles and hire drivers versus the ‘rideshare’ model where drivers own their own vehicle and operate as independent contractors employed by the company.  The temporary amendment gave staff authority to waive those requirements that resulted in new companies filling the gap left by the closure of Burlington Taxi. The goal of the new bylaw will be to simplify the requirements and match market conditions.

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Q: One of the key priorities listed in Staff’s 2024 Financial Needs & Multi-Year Forecast Reference Document is to continue to invest in a bylaw compliance department with taxis specifically listed as being affected. How would the Bylaw Compliance Department change the way taxi service is handled in the city?A: Creating the new Bylaw Compliance Department at the City of Burlington provides a centralized area that is responsible for the creation, administration, and enforcement of bylaws. Prior to this change, the work was divided across the corporation and difficult to manage.  The centralized model provides a framework that ensures bylaws are quickly updated in response to operational or market conditions.

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Q: Is the City satisfied with the level of taxi service available in Burlington today? Is work being done at the City to change the service level? How would the City increase the level of accessible cabs?A: The current level of service for regular taxis is based on the market conditions. The City has not received complaints about a lack of service in that area. There does appear to be a need for additional accessible taxis since operating accessible taxis has been very difficult for owners due to increased insurance rates and maintenance costs. City staff are in the process of researching other licensing models that have resulted in an adequate supply of accessible taxi vendors and will make recommendations as part of the bylaw report to Council.

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HOMELESSNESS ENCAMPMENTS & SUPPORTS AVAILABLEQUESTION:“What is the City of Burlington doing to respond to homelessness encampments and to support people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness?”ANSWER:Every individual has the right to safe, dignified, permanent and affordable housing.Housing supports and services is overseen by the Region of Halton and the City of Burlington works in partnership with the Region in its efforts to support individuals experiencing homelessness in our community.Halton provides a variety of emergency shelter options, support services and assistance finding more permanent housing. Support is always available for individuals who are willing to accept it. If you know someone who is experiencing homelessness or sleeping outside:

  • Email outreach@halton.ca
  • Call 1-866-442-5866

For more information on housing supports and services, please visit halton.ca/housingWomen, couples and families in need of shelter can call 311 or 365-292-3554. Men in need of shelter can call 311 or 905-339-2918.Bridging the Gap is a program funded by the Region of Halton that strives to provide readily- and easily-accessible support for youth between the ages of 16-24 residing in any of Halton’s municipalities who are, or are at-risk of, experiencing homelessness. Bridging the Gap is 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly, and committed to fostering a youth directed, strength-based approach to assisting youth in achieving their goals. Contact Bridging the Gap at 905-635-0663 or toll-free at 877-425-8661, or at info@bridgingthegaphalton.caTo help an individual experiencing a mental health crisis, contact Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) at 877-825-9011. COAST will send a team of experts to meet a homeless individual to provide immediate support.The Region’s outreach workers are always ready to assist individuals experiencing homelessness and to offer shelter supports, however, there are instances where individuals willingly do not accept shelter.Those who do accept shelter can access supports for housing, meals, and storage, as well as supports for their pets.Additionally, the City of Burlington also has a dedicated webpage that includes a list of resources available through the Region, including supports and services for women, families, youth and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Visit: burlington.ca/homelessnessBURLINGTON HOUSING STRATEGYThe City of Burlington’s Council-approved Housing Strategy (June 2022) recognizes the growing issues related to housing options and affordability in Burlington.The Housing Strategy identifies 12 short-term, medium-term and long-term actions for providing housing for all residents in Burlington. It provides a vision for housing in our city where ‘Everyone is welcome in Burlington’ and includes housing options for all current and future residents that meet their needs at all stages of life, and that are attainable at all income levels.To learn more about Burlington’s Housing Strategy, visit: getinvolvedburlington.ca/housingstrategyFor additional related frequently-asked-questions (FAQs), please click/tap the link.

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UNION BURYING GROUND UPDATEQUESTION:“Is anything being done to fix the United Empire Loyalist Cemetery/Union Burying Ground on Plains Road?”ANSWER:The Union Burying Ground (UBG)/United Empire Loyalist Cemetery is located at 1001 Plains Rd. E., and is more than 150 year old. It has a deep history and connection with the United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada, going back to the time Americans fleeing from the U.S. to honour their allegiance to the Crown when the American Revolution began. A Loyalist burial site sign was unveiled at the cemetery in 2009. UBG is the final resting place for two veterans of the War of 1812: Private Asahel Davis and Thomas Ghent.The UBG cemetery land is owned by the cemetery trustees. The City of Burlington recently entered into an agreement with the trustees to take over care and maintenance of the cemetery. The City has already been on-site inspecting the wall, trees, monuments, and other pieces of the cemetery grounds and is working to repair them. City staff have noted that the work will take some time to complete, however, the work has already commenced to bring the cemetery lands back to good repair.

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PARK PUBLIC WASHROOMSQUESTION:“Do any of Burlington’s outdoor park public washrooms stay open during the fall and winter seasons?”ANSWER:Yes, several City of Burlington parks keep washroom facilities open during the fall and winter seasons to help accommodate residents, visitors and parkgoers.The following park washrooms will continue to be open 7 days a week, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (except where otherwise noted). Please note, washroom locations identified with an asterisk (*) will be closed for the winter effective Dec. 4, 2023, and washroom locations in bold will continue to remain open throughout the winter season as these are year-round capable facilities. Other park washroom locations not listed below are being winterized and have been closed since Oct. 23:

  • LaSalle Park – Upper, 50 North Shore Blvd. E.
  • Hidden Valley Park – Upper, 1137 Hidden Valley Rd.
  • Lowville Park – Main, 6207 Lowville Park Rd.
  • Norton Park* (washrooms will be open for permitted times only), 3035 Tim Dobbie Dr.
  • Tansley Woods Park* (washrooms will be open until weather permits/the pickleball nets are removed), 4100 Kilmer Dr.
  • Paletta Lakefront Park, 4280 Lakeshore Rd. 
  • Orchard Park* (washrooms will be open for permitted times only), 2255 Sutton Dr.
  • Beachway Park Pavillion, 1034 Lakeshore Rd.
  • Central Park, 2299 New St.
  • Maple Park, 750 Maple Ave.
  • Sherwood Forest Park – West (7 a.m.-12:30 a.m. to support soccer dome use), 5270 Fairview St.
  • Spencer Smith Park – West (9 a.m.-9 p.m.), 1400 Lakeshore Rd.
  • City View Park – Centre (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), 2500 Kerns Rd.

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Mayor Meed Ward’s Weekly Update: Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2023