Vehicles for Hire
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The City of Oshawa is presently developing a by-law to modernize the City's standards for its local Vehicle-for-Hire (V.F.H.) industry which includes Taxis, Transportation Network Companies (e.g. Uber, Lyft, etc.), Designated Driving (D.D.) Services, and Limousines for the Corporate Services Committee's consideration.
New 2020 Updates: City Council (October 26, 2020)
At its meeting on October 26, 2020, City Council considered Report CORP-20-34 "Modernizing Vehicle-For-Hire Standards in the City of Oshawa: Regulatory Options" and approved Option "A" - Establish a new V.F.H. By-law - would establish a new harmonized and equitable V.F.H. By-law governing all V.F.H. operators in the City of Oshawa.
More information about the Council meeting including the web stream is available on the City Council meeting webpage. A by-law to establish V.F.H. standards as per Option "A" is currently being prepared and will be presented to City Council for approval at a later date.
| City Council Approved 2019 Consultation Process and Developments | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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At its June 10, 2019 meeting, Oshawa City Council directed staff to proceed with next steps to modernize and harmonize, where possible, standards associated with the Vehicle-for-Hire Industry (e.g. Taxi, Designated Driving, T.N.C., and Limousine Industries). Details of this initiative are outlined in report CORP-19-57 "Modernizing and Harmonizing Vehicle-for-Hire Industry Standards in the City of Oshawa" and the Council-approved timing is outlined in report CORP-19-61 "Anticipated Timeline for Modernizing Vehicle-for-Hire Standards and Harmonizing Penalty/Fine Amount". The following process was approved by City Council:
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Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the Vehicle-for-Hire (V.F.H.) Industry? | ||||||||||||||||
| Answer: The Vehicle-for-Hire Industry is a term used to refer to the broader private-transportation industry which includes Taxis, Transportation Network Companies (e.g. Uber, Lyft, etc.), Designated Driving (D.D.) Services, and Limousines. | ||||||||||||||||
| What is a Transportation Network Company? | ||||||||||||||||
| Answer: A Transportation Network Company or "T.N.C." is a company that connects paying passengers with drivers of private vehicles-for-hire solely through a mobile application or "app" | ||||||||||||||||
| How do T.N.C.s generally operate? | ||||||||||||||||
Answer: The general business model of a T.N.C. is as follows:
The entire transaction from hailing the ride to payment is facilitated through the T.N.C.'s app.
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| How do T.N.C.s differ from other forms of private transportation services (ex. Taxicab and Designated Drivers)? | ||||||||||||||||
Answer: While T.N.C., Taxicab and, to a lesser extent, Designated Drivers, offer similar services, they differ in the three following ways:
See the table below for additional details.
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| Are T.N.C.s operating in compliance with City of Oshawa By-laws? | ||||||||||||||||
| Answer: No. Presently, the general business model of T.N.Cs does not comply with the City's Taxicab Licensing By-law 50-2003. | ||||||||||||||||
| What is the City doing on the issue of T.N.C.s? | ||||||||||||||||
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Answer: The City is assessing feedback gathered from the extensive industry stakeholder and public consultation process and will report back to the Corporate Services Committee with regulatory policy options. The following stakeholders were engaged in the consultation process:
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| Did the City undertake a Consultation Process? | ||||||||||||||||
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Answer: Yes. The City undertook an extensive industry stakeholder and public consultation process in 2017 between June and August which engaged the public, Taxi Industry, Designated Driving (D.D.) services and Transportation Network Companies (T.N.C.s). In total, five (5) consultation sessions were held (see consultation session schedule) and online feedback was received through Connect Oshawa.
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Important Information