Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Nov. 20, 2023 – Any Licensing Updates on Taxi & Rideshare Services in Burlington?

Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly 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 Monday Mailbag – Nov. 20, 2023QUESTION:"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.

•                    •                    •

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.

•                    •                    •

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.

•                    •                    •

RELATED LINKS:

• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Nov. 13, 2023 – Homelessness Encampments & Supports Available
• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Nov. 6, 2023 – What’s Being Done to Fix the Union Burying Ground in Burlington?
• Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – Oct. 30, 2023 – Which Park Public Washrooms Stay Open in the Fall & Winter?
• Mayor’s Mailbag – October 2023 Roundup – Tyandaga Golf Course; MTSA Plans Update; & Public Engagement Dates for 2024 Budget
• Mayor’s Mailbag – September 2023 Roundup – Bateman Public Engagement; & Home Construction & Renovation Projects Webpage
• Mayor’s Mailbag – August 2023 Roundup – What is Oak Wilt; & Support in Finding Childcare
• Mayor’s Mailbag – July 2023 Roundup – Bird Eggs in LaSalle Park; & Cooling Centres
• Mayor’s Mailbag – June 2023 Roundup – Mountainside Pool Reopening; Dissolution of Peel Region; & Bateman Redevelopment Project Updates
• Mayor’s Mailbag – May 2023 Roundup – Beachway Free Parking Pass; Twin-City Agreements; & ‘TellCityHall’ Automated Calls
• Mayor’s Mailbag – April 2023 Roundup – Parking Permit Program Update; Spring Cleanup; & Mayor’s Chamber Award Update
• Mayor’s Mailbag – March 2023 Roundup – Recognizing a Cause/Event, Burlington City Crest, & Windrows/Snow-Clearing
• Mayor’s Mailbag – February 2023 Roundup – City Winter Service Levels, Tax Support for Seniors on Fixed Incomes, & Support Accessing Recreation Programs
• Mayor’s Mailbag – January 2023 Roundup – Mental Health Resources, Arts & Culture Fund, & Homelessness Support
• Mayor’s Mailbag – December 2022 Roundup – Bill 23, Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund, & Winter Storm Updates