Item - 2020.MM25.1

That City Council delete Recommendations 1 and 2:

Recommendations to be deleted

1.  City Council request the City Manager to consider, as part of his upcoming October 2020 COVID-19 Financial report, the reduction of taxicab licensing renewal fees for 2020.
 

2.  City Council request the General Government and Licensing Committee, at its November meeting, to consider an amendment to Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire to extend the maximum age of vehicles used as a taxicab, sedan limousine or private transportation company vehicle from seven model years to nine model years, for vehicles of the 2013 model year and onward, and the maximum age of vehicles used as a stretch limousine from eight model years to ten model years, for vehicles of the 2012 model year and onward.

and adopt the following new recommendations:

1.  City Council request the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to report to the Budget Committee on the impact of the 2021 Budget of a significant reduction or elimination of taxicab licensing renewal fees for 2021.

2.  City Council request the General Government and Licensing Committee, at its November 30, 2020 meeting, to consider:

a.  an amendment to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, to temporarily reduce the regulatory charges for the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund Program by 75 percent for the year 2021 and reinstate the fees to their 2020 levels in 2022; and

b.  an amendment to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, to extend the maximum age of vehicles used as a taxicab and sedan limousine from seven model years to eight model years for vehicles of the 2013 model year and onward and the maximum age of vehicles used as a stretch limousine from eight model years to nine model years for vehicles of the 2012 model year and onward.

That:

1.  City Council request the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Finance, to explore the lack of available insurance products and the potential rise in insurance premiums for the vehicle-for-hire industry.

That Councillor Wong-Tam be permitted to withdraw her motions 1a and 1b.

That City Council delete Recommendations 1 and 2:

Recommendations to be deleted

1.  City Council request the City Manager to consider, as part of his upcoming October 2020 COVID-19 Financial report, the reduction of taxicab licensing renewal fees for 2020.
 

2.  City Council request the General Government and Licensing Committee, at its November meeting, to consider an amendment to Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire to extend the maximum age of vehicles used as a taxicab, sedan limousine or private transportation company vehicle from seven model years to nine model years, for vehicles of the 2013 model year and onward, and the maximum age of vehicles used as a stretch limousine from eight model years to ten model years, for vehicles of the 2012 model year and onward.

and adopt the following new recommendation:

1. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report to the November 30, 2020 meeting of the General Government and Licensing Committee on the feasibility of a 12-month moratorium on:

a.  enforcement of the age of vehicle provisions of taxis and limousines; and

b.  licencing renewal fees for taxicabs. 

That Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong be permitted to withdraw his motion 2.

That City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to undertake a broader review of possible relief measures that can be considered to assist the taxi industry and report back to the November 30, 2020 meeting of the General Government and Licensing Committee, with any financial impacts to the City addressed through the 2021 budget process; such review should include, but not be limited to, studying the feasibility and impact of:

a.  a 12-month moratorium on enforcement of the age of vehicle provisions of taxis and limousines;

b.  a 12-month moratorium on licensing renewal fees for taxicabs;

c.  a significant reduction or elimination of taxicab licensing renewal fees for 2021;

d.  an amendment to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, to temporarily reduce the regulatory charges for the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund Program by 75 percent for the year 2021 and reinstate the fees to their 2020 levels in 2022; and

e. an amendment to Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 546, Licensing of Vehicles-for-Hire, to extend the maximum age of vehicles used as a taxicab and sedan limousine from seven model years to eight model years for vehicles of the 2013 model year and onward and the maximum age of vehicles used as a stretch limousine from eight model years to nine model years for vehicles of the 2012 model year and onward.

The balance of motion 3 by Councillor Ford also carried.

Councillor Ford, on a Point of Order, stated that if it would help to move the debate forward, he was prepared to work on an amending motion on this item if Council could hold the item down.

Deputy Mayor Minna-Wong, on a Point of Order, stated that he wished to take a separate vote on that part of Councillor Wong-Tam's motion regarding the age of vehicles.

Councillor Fletcher, on a Point of Order, stated that the Mayor had suggested an interim report on this matter but she wasn't sure if that had been included in the motion.