SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The City of Summerside is forging ahead with a review of its Taxi Bylaw.
Council discussed the issue at its recent police committee meeting, where three local cabbies spoke to the issue.
The drivers said they are concerned about alleged unfairness in the local industry that has cropped up in recent years, which they said largely stemmed from the city not enforcing the current taxi bylaw.
Myles Doucette said he would like to see the city take a more active role in controlling rates, as it did years ago.
“I’d really like to see the city get back on board and take control for the citizens of Summerside, so they’ll know from one day to the next when they jump in a car what the fare is going to be,” said Doucette.
The city’s current taxi bylaw only sets a maximum rate for fares in the city, which is $11 for a single adult and $10.50 for a senior. However, it’s largely up to individual drivers or companies to decide how much a ride will cost under that maximum.
Joe Arsenault, who owns United Taxi, told council his prices average more in the $5 range and rarely get anywhere near the maximum.
City staff is also looking for clarification on the bylaw.
Gordon MacFarlane, Summerside’s director of legal services, said the taxi industry, and the related ride-sharing industry, is evolving quickly and before staff come up with a new policy, they would like some direction from council.
"Does council want to ban ride sharing through apps like Uber and Lyft in general? There’s currently nothing in the bylaw that bans such services, but some municipalities in Canada are going that route for various reasons. Should council regulate the industry at all? Or should there be even more regulation? These are all fundamental questions that staff need to know before drafting a new policy," said MacFarlane.
“Before we create the new rules we have to figure out what the foundation is for what kind of rules we want to create,” he added.
In the end, council sent its policy review committee to gather information and report back. It was suggested all of Summerside’s taxi companies should be consulted, as well as the public, before staff proceeds.
The review committee will try to have a presentation for council ready by the January committee meeting.
