This item is listed pursuant to Committee of Council Recommendation CW241-2021, as follows:
That the following delegation to the Committee of Council Meeting of May 12, 2021, re: Taxi Industry Concerns, be referred to staff for presentation of a proposed motion to the City Council meeting of May 19, 2021:
1. Zafar Tariq, Taxi Industry Member
Proposed motion (published on the City's website on May 18, 2021):
Whereas The Mobile Licensing By-law 67-2014, as amended, was enacted on March 26, 2014 to provide for a system of licensing for Mobile businesses; and
Whereas Schedule 4 of By-law 67-2014 provides for licensing requirements related to persons who carry on the business of taxicab owners and drivers and taxicab brokers; and
Whereas Zafar Tariq a member of the taxi industry delegated to Committee of Council on May 12, 2021, regarding concerns for the reduction in taxicab business during the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas Mr. Tariq requested that the period of inactive taxicab owner licences be increased from two (2) years to three (3) years as the taxicab plate holders are finding it difficult to lease the plates at this time; and
Whereas the two-year limit for the use of conditional licence renewal- no vehicle was based on the standard taxicab business with small numbers of taxi plates inactive; and
Whereas the closure of offices and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a significant increase of nine (9) applicants, in 2019, to over ninety (90) applicants seeking the option of Conditional Licence Renewal-No Vehicle option in 2020; and
Whereas four (4) applicants for taxicab owner licences will reach the limit of two years using this Conditional Licence renewal- No Vehicle option and will lose their licence in late August 2021 should there be no amendment to the by-law; and
Whereas Mr. Tariq indicated that due to the pandemic and the loss of business for the taxicab industry the mileage on vehicles used as taxis in Brampton has been significantly decreased and he suggests that an additional model year be permitted for vehicles with a model year of 2011 to 2015; and
Whereas one of the two approved providers of mandated taxicab security cameras was sold and its operations moved from Ontario to the United States and the taxi industry has been having difficulty with purchasing new cameras or having the existing cameras repaired; and
Whereas the taxi delegation has asked for the use of taxicab security cameras to be optional, similar to the cities of Markham, Vaughan and Mississauga; and
Whereas Mr. Tariq is requesting that the issuance of taxicab driver licences be permitted to be renewed for up to five years similar to the Ontario Provincial Driver Licence for those driver who have not had a criminal record for a number of years; and
Whereas Council believes the suggested amendments would be beneficial for the struggling taxicab industry;
Therefore Be It Resolved:
1. That section 63 of Schedule 4 of the Mobile Licensing By-law, 67-2014, as amended, be further amended by increasing the number of months a Conditional Licence Renewal-No Vehicle may be issued to 36 months.
2. That paragraph 35(7) of Schedule 4 of the Mobile Licensing By-law, as amended, be further amended by increasing the maximum age at which a vehicle may be licensed from six (6) to seven (7) model years.
3. That clause 35(8)(i) of Schedule 4 of the Mobile Licensing By-law, as amended, be further amended by increasing the number of model years an applicant may request an extension of model years from three (3) to four (4) years.
4. That paragraph 35(1)(i) of Schedule 4 of the Mobile Licensing By-law, as amended, be deleted.
5. That section 14 of the Mobile Licensing By-law, as amended, be amended by adding the following clause immediately following section 14:
14.1 Notwithstanding section 14, where an Applicant for a renewal of a Driver Licence has had no Criminal Record and a clean driving record for five (5) or more licence years the Driver’s Licence may be valid for up to four (4) years when accompanied by the Licence Fee for the four-year period.