Town of Barrhead councillors are considering enacting a taxi bylaw to regulate operators who should not be operating.
Councillors instructed administration to investigate how other municipalities regulated the taxi services in their communities and report back to council following a discussion initiated by Mayor Dave McKenzie.
"It has become apparent that some illegitimate taxi service providers are operating in our community," he said. "They are putting our residents in danger by operating vehicles that are not adequately insured or are not being driven by a properly licenced driver. The list goes on."
McKenzie added that regulating taxi services is a municipal responsibility and, as such, believed the municipality should have a bylaw to define the requirements needed for taxi operators to operate in their jurisdiction.
"My suggestion is to have administration look at what other municipalities are doing and create something appropriate for our community," he said.
Coun. Rod Klumph said he wasn't opposed to having such a bylaw; he questioned why one was needed, adding the municipality already had a mechanism to control operators through a business licence.
"If a business comes to town and applies for a business licence, wouldn't that be the time to check on the business?" he asked.
Legislative services and planning director Cheryl Callihoo said that while legitimate taxi service providers do take the proper steps in applying for a municipal business licence, including providing proof that their drivers have the appropriate licencing and insurance, it is difficult to police those that decide to operate outside the boundaries.
"If they are going to operate in the shadows, they are going to do it whether or not we have a [taxis bylaw]," he said. "So wouldn't it be up to our bylaw officer to prove they have the proper operating licence?"
CAO Edward LeBlanc replied that without an accompanying bylaw there is little the town's community police officer could do.
"The proposed bylaw would address that, giving them the ability to issue a ticket," he said.
Klumph asked what tools are at the town's disposal to ensure a business has the proper business licence.
LeBlanc said it hasn't been an issue so far; adding any business they've approached without a business licence simply gets one.
"We've never had a business decline to get a business licence," he said.
Klumph then asked why other types of businesses didn't need to have similar bylaws.
Coun. Dave Sawatzky suggested they were confusing the issue, saying a business licence and a bylaw served two purposes.
"As a business owner, I just ask for my business licence. I don't have to prove I have insurance or anything else," he said. "[A bylaw] is regulatory. We need to have the ability to make sure [businesses] have the proper requirements to protect our residents."
Klumph reiterated while he isn't opposed to a taxi bylaw and supports further research, he was unclear why it was necessary, asking what requirements were needed to operate a taxi business in the Town of Barrhead.
Callihoo replied that under provincial regulations, taxi drivers need a Class 4 licence and a base amount of insurance.
"Once they get that, they get their business licence," she said, noting the municipality gets copies of documents.
Klumph emphasized again he did not understand why a bylaw was needed.
"We are the gatekeeper," he said.
LeBlanc replied it is not just a matter of granting a licence but ensuring the business continues to meet a certain standard, and if they do not, they would have a mechanism to ensure compliance.
"What you are saying, in the bylaw, [administration] would draft things quite specific to [those types of companies] and how to shut it down," he said.
LeBlanc answered that he did not know the specifics, hence the need for further research to see how other municipalities tackled the issue, noting he would then present potential options to council.
McKenzie concluded, saying it was common for certain types of businesses to have specific regulations.
"For instance, pawnshops have unique regulations and rules because of the nature of the business," he said.
