Cabs get head start before ride-sharing bylaw kicks in
City council will hold off a final vote on new taxi regulations they believe will open up the city to ride sharing companies while giving traditional cab companies a fighting chance for two weeks.
Council members unanimously approved two readings of the new “Vehicle for Hire”bylaw at Monday night’s meeting, but paused before a third reading with Coun. Julie Friesen saying more time should be allowed for feedback.
She cited fellow councillor Brian Varga’s question about timing during debate — “when it comes hard and fast, that’s when we get pushback,” he said.
The bylaw to replace the Taxi Bylaw debuted in committee last week after years of discussion in the community about when popular ride-sharing services like Uber, Lyft or others might be available in the city.
Mayor Ted Clugston confirmed to reporters that the city’s development division had been contacted recently by Lyft, but also said cab companies have known about changes in the industry for some time.
“We have consulted (cab companies) but it’s tricky ... they have worked under some fairly strict but predictable rules for some time,” said Clugston.
“(Delaying the bylaw) was a good decision on council’s part, and perhaps we’ll get a little more feedback, from either cab companies or ride-share companies.”
Administrators told committee on June 6 that discussions with an unmanned company occurred pre-COVID and current intentions were not known.
The bylaw would allow ride-sharing operators in the city, but under provincial guidelines for licensing and insurance. It would also change rules in the Taxi Bylaw that would now allow online hailing and fee negotiation as a competitive tool. Cab companies would also be able to add temporary licences to meet high demand in certain periods, like New Year’s or Stampede week.
“We’re creating options here to give the community more options,” said Coun. Robert Dumanowski. “It’s a very progressive change.”
Relaunch still paused
City emergency officials said they were pleased to announce a partial opening of spray parks and the Esplanade, but there are still no firm dates for eased reopenings of other facilities affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.
“We’re heavily focusing our efforts on pools, parks and rec facilities ... and in the process of finalizing a date to reopen city hall,” said Merrick Brown, the city’s emergency management director in an update to council on Monday.
The city also augmented its transit operations Monday, as was announced one week ago as provincial health authorities moved up the date of the second stage of reopenings with the addition of large public facilities, like those operated by municipalities.
However, the city has stated that it was developing plans to meet new health guidelines and warned that facilities might not be available on the first day prohibitions were lifted.
“We’re currently taking them in a case-by-case basis and we’re locked step with the province on this,” said Brown.