Even though Erin has no local taxi company, councillors here may soon be facing passage of a taxi bylaw.
Wellington OPP Inspector Scott Smith spoke to council on Jan. 10 on the need for such a bylaw.
“I realize this is difficult for a municipality which does not have a taxi service,” said.
But, “This is one of those bylaws where the warden would like to see all seven [lower tier] municipalities pass, so there is some consistency around the Wellington County.”
He cited Puslinch Township, which does not have a taxi service either, and relies on Guelph, and Cambridge to provide that service.
“This bylaw, has in no way interfered with the ability of residents to acquire taxi services,” Smith said.
He understood from previous discussions that is one of the concerns voiced in Erin.
“There’s not a lot I can say, other than the intent of this bylaw is for public safety, to ensure cabs being operated within Wellington County are safe, that they comply with all the legislation. As a result of this bylaw, we’ve been able to remove several high risk drivers from operating cabs in Wellington County.”
For some it was a bad driving record, for others it was involvement “activities highly inappropriate for someone operating a cab.”
He noted police have issued less than a handful of charges in the year the bylaw was in place elsewhere, and most companies and cabbies have accepted the process and adapted to it.“Overall this is a process that is working well.”
Councillor John Brennan said the matter first came to council and the ability for residents to access services was not the sole objection, although it was the biggest.
“We’re largely serviced by cabs that come from Halton, Caledon and Orangeville.”
He could see why Puslinch might not have the same concern, because Guelph is close.
He contended it is more challenging to get a cab when they are coming from farther away. However, “one of the problems we created by not passing this is that someone who starts a cab company here has no controls.”
Brennan said taxis from other communities are already meeting requirements of those municipalities “which I am sure are just as rigorous from a safety point of view.”
If those regulation match those of Wellington, Brennan wondered why those companies could not be exempt from the county bylaw.
Councillor Barb Tocher suggested exemptions might not be the answer, but rather grant them a license at a zero fee if they pass the regulations.
“That way it would not cost them anything to pick up a fare here.”
Smith said if he was to start a taxi company in Erin, he would hope the municipality would enforce the bylaw to ensure his financial survival.
If a business owner had to pay the licensing fees for himself and the vehicle, he would expect someone coming into the area would also have to pay those fees.
Tocher said “the reality of the issue is that we have seen taxi companies come and go in the Town of Erin … and it is probably not a viable enterprise, stand-alone.”
Her counterargument is “Erin does not have a viable independent taxi company within the town of Erin, we have to bring them in from Halton or Orangeville to pick up a fare. Under the bylaw, they would need to be licenced. All we are saying is that it makes sense that if they have already passed all these stringent tests and criteria – if they are only picking up one or two fares a year – that they can continue to do so. They’re not coming here every day.”
Maieron noted Erin is the only municipality that had not passed this bylaw.
Tocher said the Highway Traffic Act would still apply.
Councillor Deb Callaghan supports the taxi bylaw.
“I work with the City of Vaughan and we have a major issue of cabs coming into the municipality. They’re taking work away from the local cabs and we have no control over the fares they charge, the condition of their cabs or anything else.”
