Monday, April 13, 2015 (Halifax, NS) – The Halifax Regional Municipality is seeking input on the future of the taxi licensing process in the region.
A recommendation is currently before the Transportation Standing Committee that, if adopted, would begin the process of retiring conventional taxi licences in the municipality.
There is a cap of 1,000 conventional taxi owner licences, spread over three zones.
Currently, we have met that cap and, in fact, a waiting list exists of more than 600 eligible drivers seeking a conventional licence.
Another option for taxi drivers is to apply for an accessible taxi owner licence. Those licences are not restricted to specific zones and there is no cap on the number of accessible licences. There are currently 46 of those licences in circulation.
A September, 2014 staff report to the Transportation Standing Committee recommends new conventional taxi owner licences should no longer be issued when a licence is returned to the municipality, so as to counter the predicted increase in accessible taxi licences. If approved, the current 1,000 conventional taxi owner licences would gradually decline, while accessible licences would continue to be issued.
At that September meeting the Transportation Standing Committee requested staff seek further input on these proposed amendments to the Taxi and Limousine Regulation (Administrative Order 39).
An independent consultant has been engaged to seek the views of stakeholders and the public. You are invited to participate in either or both of the following consultation processes by:
- Attending a town hall meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the Halifax Forum Multi-Purpose Centre, 6210 Young Street
- Submitting your comments to an online survey that can be accessed at the following link: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/2015-HRM-Taxi-and-Limo-Survey/. The online survey is available from now until the end of April.
Information gathered from these public engagement exercises will be used to help form the staff response to the Transportation Standing Committee.
Source: Release