Bylaw amendment delays taxi meters; public meeting set

By Douglas Glynn Midland Free Press March 1 2011

Council has passed an amendment to the taxicab bylaw extending to July 31 from April 1 a requirement that taxis install meters.

Meantime, council will hold a special meeting Wednesday, March 23, at the North Simcoe Sports and Recreation Centre to hear comments from the taxi companies and the public.

The bylaw – originally passed last year – sparked a debate about whether fares would be higher using the meters. At that time the bylaw was passed by a vote of 4-3.

Last month, the new council voted 5-4 to review the bylaw.

The bylaw licences taxi owners, brokers and drivers; set standards for the industry and require meters in all taxis; a move that would eliminate the flat fees now charged by the town’s four taxi companies.

A staff report recently presented to council said that of the four taxi companies, Central Taxi and Catch a Cab favour meters; Union Taxi is in favour of them, but would prefer the rate was higher, and Busy Bee Taxi is not in favour of meters.

The report noted the current flat rates charged by the four companies range from base rate of $5 and rise – depending on the length of the trip and the company – to a maximum of $13. The report adds that the town did not create the meters rates; they were determined by three of the four taxi companies.”

Coun. Pat File – who supported a review of the bylaw – said people raised concerns about the meters during the October election campaign.