Item - 2022.GL32.29
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2022 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the General Government and Licensing Committee on July 4, 2022 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2022.
- See also By-law 1084-2022
GL32.29 - Extending the Vehicle Age Limit for Accessible Taxicabs
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2022, adopted the following:
1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, to permit a vehicle used as an accessible taxicab to be up to ten model years old and stipulating that this provision is in effect until December 31, 2025 and shall be repealed on January 1, 2026.
2. City Council amend Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, to extend the maximum age of vehicle provision for existing vehicles used as Private Transportation Company vehicles, taxicabs and sedan limousines to permit these vehicles to be used for one additional year, so Private Transportation Company vehicles, taxicabs and sedan limousines may be used for a total of 10 model years until December 31, 2023, in view of existing supply chain issues.
3. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to include in the planned report back about the vehicle-for-hire industry a review of vehicle age provisions for taxicabs, limousines and Private Transportation Company vehicles.
4. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to ensure that the Vehicle for Hire Electric Vehicle Working Group convenes as soon as possible, such that its work can inform the replacement of the greatest possible numbers of vehicles for hire, and that the working group include as part of its deliberation a review of tools and regulations to reduce emissions in the vehicle-for-hire sector.
Public Notice Given
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/bgrd/backgroundfile-227610.pdf
(July 7, 2022) Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/bgrd/backgroundfile-227611.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(June 26, 2022) E-mail from Andy Reti (GL.Supp)
(June 29, 2022) Letter from Jake Brockman Manager, Public Policy, Uber Canada (GL.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/comm/communicationfile-153986.pdf
(July 1, 2022) E-mail from Gail Beck-Souter, Beck Taxi Limited (GL.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/comm/communicationfile-154037.pdf
(July 4, 2022) Submission from Ryan Bedard, Sales Manager, Humberview Mobility (GL.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/comm/communicationfile-154025.pdf
(July 4, 2022) E-mail from Peter Mandronis (GL.Supp)
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council amend Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, to extend the maximum age of vehicle provision for existing vehicles used as Private Transportation Company vehicles, taxicabs and sedan limousines to permit these vehicles to be used for one additional year, so Private Transportation Company vehicles, taxicabs and sedan limousines may be used for a total of 10 model years until December 31, 2023, in view of existing supply chain issues.
2. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to include in the planned report back about the vehicle-for-hire industry a review of vehicle age provisions for taxicabs, limousines and Private Transportation Company vehicles.
3. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to ensure that the Vehicle for Hire Electric Vehicle Working Group convenes as soon as possible, such that its work can inform the replacement of the greatest possible numbers of vehicles for hire, and that the working group include as part of its deliberation a review of tools and regulations to reduce emissions in the vehicle-for-hire sector.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Jul-21-2022 9:52 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - GL32.29 - Layton - motion 1 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 23 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Robin Buxton Potts, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, John Filion, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Paula Fletcher, Nick Mantas |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jul-21-2022 9:53 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - GL32.29 - Adopt the Item as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 23 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Robin Buxton Potts, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, John Filion, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Paula Fletcher, Nick Mantas |
Declared Interests (City Council)
Councillor Nick Mantas - as a family member owns a taxi plate.
Written Declaration: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/declared-interest-file.do?id=11177
GL32.29 - Extending the Vehicle Age Limit for Accessible Taxicabs
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Public Notice Given
Committee Recommendations
The General Government and Licensing Committee recommend that:
1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, to permit a vehicle used as an accessible taxicab to be up to ten model years old and stipulating that this provision is in effect until December 31, 2025 and shall be repealed on January 1, 2026.
Origin
Summary
As required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the City has a multi-year accessibility plan which includes ensuring the availability of on-demand accessible vehicle-for-hire service for all individuals. Consistent with this, Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, of the Toronto Municipal Code established Toronto Taxicab Licences, which are issued to taxicab owners operating a wheelchair-accessible taxicab.
In accordance with Chapter 546, all Private Transportation Company vehicles and taxicabs, including Toronto Taxicab Licences', are not permitted to operate if they are more than seven model years old. In 2020, to support taxicab owners impacted by COVID-19, City Council temporarily extended this vehicle age limit to nine years for all taxicabs, expiring at the end of 2022. Of the 600 licensed wheelchair-accessible taxicabs currently operating in Toronto, 370 wheelchair-accessible taxicabs, representing 62 percent of the wheelchair-accessible taxicab fleet in Toronto will reach their vehicle age limit at the end of 2022 and must be replaced.
Staff have heard concerns from the taxicab industry and engaged with Toronto Transit Commission Wheel-Trans and accessible vehicle converters in the GTA about the current market availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles to replace the expiring licensed wheelchair-accessible taxicabs. Due to on-going supply chain issues, which have affected the motor vehicle industry, it is anticipated that there will be an insufficient number of vans that can be converted to be wheelchair-accessible in Toronto and surrounding areas within the timeframe necessary to comply with the existing requirements of Chapter 546. This may prevent wheelchair-accessible taxicab owners from being able to replace their vehicles resulting in reduced availability of accessible vehicles for the Toronto Transit Commission Wheel-Trans' contracted services and affecteffect on-demand wheelchair-accessible transportation services in the city.
Staff recommend amending Chapter 546 such that, until December 31, 2025, a wheelchair-accessible taxicab may be up to 10 model years old. On January 1, 2026, this provision would be repealed such that wheelchair-accessible taxicabs will again be required to be no more than 7 model years old. This will provide the flexibility for taxicab operators to continue to provide accessible transportation services while providing time for supply chain issues to resolve and taxicab owners to source and purchase appropriate replacement vehicles. Taxicab owners will continue to be required to submit annual mechanical safety inspection certificates and comply with all safety and maintenance requirements in Chapter 546 to ensure that the wheelchair-accessible vehicles continue to be safe to operate as taxicabs.
This report was written in consultation with Toronto Transit Commission Wheel-Trans and the Accessibility Unit.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/bgrd/backgroundfile-227610.pdf
(July 7, 2022) Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/bgrd/backgroundfile-227611.pdf
Communications
(June 26, 2022) E-mail from Andy Reti (GL.Supp)
(June 29, 2022) Letter from Jake Brockman Manager, Public Policy, Uber Canada (GL.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/comm/communicationfile-153986.pdf
(July 1, 2022) E-mail from Gail Beck-Souter, Beck Taxi Limited (GL.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/comm/communicationfile-154037.pdf
(July 4, 2022) Submission from Ryan Bedard, Sales Manager, Humberview Mobility (GL.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/gl/comm/communicationfile-154025.pdf
(July 4, 2022) E-mail from Peter Mandronis (GL.Supp)
Speakers
Rob Simon, Humberview Mobility
Andy Reti
Behrouz Khamseh, All Taxi Owners and Operators Limited
Peter Mandronis
Katherine P
Motions
Vote (Adopt Item) Jul-04-2022
Result: Carried | Majority Required |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 5 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie (Chair), John Filion, Stephen Holyday, Josh Matlow, Frances Nunziata |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 1 | Members that were absent are Nick Mantas |
Declared Interests
Councillor Nick Mantas - as a family member has a taxi plate.
Written Declaration: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/declared-interest-file.do?id=11136