Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus support for an Ontario-wide licensing framework for rideshare companies
Dear Premier Ford and Minister Sarkaria,
On behalf of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC), representing 103
rural and small urban municipalities across Eastern Ontario, I am writing to
request that the Ontario Government strongly consider adopting a province
wide licensing framework for rideshare companies.
Municipalities across Eastern Ontario, including the County of
Northumberland and Township of Russell, have been advocating for a
provincial licensing framework for rideshare companies that would align
Ontario with Quebec and British Columbia. Ridesharing provides a vital
transportation option in communities across Ontario, but much of the
province is still underserved by ridesharing services.
In many parts of the province, ridesharing is unregulated or regulated in a
‘patchwork’ manner. Since 2016, dozens of municipalities across Ontario have
developed unique bylaws to regulate ridesharing. These bylaws cover topics
such as licensing scheme, insurance requirements, driver screening
standards, vehicle requirements, and fee / payment schedules.
The benefits of an Ontario-wide licensing framework of rideshare companies
include:
- Supports economic development – As Ontario continues to attract
investments in areas such as electronic vehicle (EV) manufacturing,
communities across the province will need additional transportation
options. Ridesharing helps people get around growing communities
while also providing part-time flexible job opportunities. - Connects communities – The current patchwork regulatory structure
does not reflect the reality of regional transportation, which does not
stop at municipal borders. Similar to the One Fare approach of the
government, a provincial regulatory framework would allow people to
use ridesharing to move seamlessly between communities in the
province. - Helps reduce impaired driving – Research shows that the presence of
ridesharing in a community can help reduce impaired driving. In many
rural communities, transportation options are often sparse or
unavailable late at night, which can lead some individuals to choose to
drive impaired. A provincial regulatory framework would allow
ridesharing to expand more easily into these communities and provide
people with a safe ride option. - Enables innovative approaches to transit – As one example of
innovative partnerships, the Town of Innisfil and Uber Canada co
designed a custom transit solution, named Innisfil Transit. With a touch
of a button, residents are offered flat fare rides to popular destinations,
such as the train station, the recreation complex, or the Innisfil
Employment Area. Since the launch of Innisfil Transit, thousands of
residents have taken trips to connect with the commuter rail station,
get to work, go out with friends, or visit their doctor.
Premier Ford and Minister Sakaria, we thank you for your consideration of this
important issue. As always, the EOWC remains a trusted partner and
welcomes continued collaboration and opportunities for open dialogue on
behalf of our member municipalities.
Media Contacts
Chair Bonnie Clark (Warden of Peterborough County)
info@eowc.org | 705-927-4207
Meredith Staveley-Watson
Director of Government Relations and Policy
info@eowc.org | 647-545-8324