Ontario review continues March 18, 19
Ontario’s “Northlander Rideshare Pilot Review” continues this week on March 18th and 19th.
On March 11, the first session was conducted by video teleconference and included representatives from Uber and Lyft and 31 provincial and municipal bureaucrats.
On March 13th, at least 3 Canadian Taxi Association (CTA) members were part of the session along with app-based services URide and HOPP.
CTA and other coalition members will be part of the March 18th and 19th sessions, and plan to provide comment when all sessions have been completed.
The Canadian Taxi Association (CTA) sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford on January 19th outlining areas for improvement including consumer protection; passenger safety; compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities’ Act; drivers’ earnings; business being lost to gridlock and congestion; and emissions.
“As a result of your announcement of a ‘framework review” in the November 6th Fall Economic Statement, our group representing a wide range of interests impacted by ground transportation regulations assembled on January 7th to begin developing a vision for an improved regulatory environment in order to share it with you and your team as part of the upcoming review,” the letter said.
Stakeholders who contributed to the submission to Ford included the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police; the Ottawa Police Service; the Rideshare Drivers Association of Ontario; RideFAIR; and accessibility advocates.
“We believe that the ground transportation review announced in the Fall Economic Statement presents an important opportunity to reaffirm the best decisions made over the past decade; revisit policies which are proving unhelpful or actively harmful; and develop a process for systemic review moving forward to ensure continued future success,” Way noted in the CTA’s letter to Ford.
“Technology will never stop advancing, and as the service providers working at the leading edge of these advancements we are committed to do everything possible to support you in developing the regulatory systems needed to keep Ontario moving, safely and effectively.”
