Author: Rita Smith

Toronto Council’s decision to pause issuing new license to rideshare drivers until its mandated training program is implemented was supported at the November 30 Licensing Committee meeting.

Item GL27.19 was debated by General Government and Licensing Committee and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on December 15, 2021.

While speakers Jake Brockman from Uber Canada and Andrew Murie of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) offered deputations warning that pausing licensing of new rideshare drivers would increase wait times for passengers during the holiday season, Councillor Wong-Tam pointed out that at six minutes, their standard for service is equal to or faster than the service standard for ambulances.

Key recommendations in the report posted include:

• Driver training focused on accessibility, the act of pick-up and drop-off, anti-racism and increased sensitivity;
• Monitoring impacts of ride-sharing on congestion, as currently “there is insufficient evidence to suggest that additional measures are required to mitigate congestion, such as a cap on the number of Private Transportation Companies vehicles;”
• Establishment of a vehicle-for-hire working group to discuss opportunities to support the electrification of the vehicle-for-hire industry;
• A continued reduction in Vehicle-for-Hire licensing renewal fees by 50 per cent; and
• Maintaining the 75 per cent reduction on the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund Program regulatory charges.

Uber Canada has expressed its desire to see Toronto’s new vehicle for hire driver training be delivered completely online.

In correspondence obtained November 19^th through Freedom of Information (FOI), Taxi News has learned that Uber’s stated desire for the training program for Toronto drivers is limited to “virtual training” with no in-car or in-class component.   

Uber’s preference is in sharp contrast with the position maintained by Taxi industry members who believe in-car training is essential.

“Customer service doesn’t matter, if you’re dead,” Kristine Hubbard points out bluntly. Hubbard, Operations Manager at Beck Taxi, is commenting on the Request for Proposals released November 9th by Toronto’s Licensing and Standards department as it moves forward with hiring