Open-ended report on accessible taxi licenses headed to council

Probably one of the biggest stories of the year in Timmins is the taxi license issue that has played out in Timmins Police Services Board meetings throughout 2017.

Now, a report will head to city council. One, for the most part, seems very open-ended in an effort to bring accessible taxi cabs to town.

“Sometimes, we can over-legislate ourselves,” Deputy Chief Des Walsh says, “We don’t want to be bogged down with a bunch of legal gobbley-gook. We know there’s a need in the community for this type of service and if the Board chooses to regulate the service, then let the issuer of licenses decide (how many accessible taxi licenses are issued), based on the needs of the community.”

He’s referring to the report that lacks a cap on the amount of licenses to be issued.

The issuer of licenses? That would be Timmins Police Constable Tom Buczkowski.

Walsh says it also gives Buczkowski a chance to come back to the Board and simply ask for an increase or decrease. With that, it saves them the task of going through the city by-law process and the TPS Board can vote.

Other provisions in the by-law makes sure accessible taxi cab drivers have the accessible taxi cab license with certification, first-aid training and CPR and the license can’t be transferred or sold without consent from Buczkowski.

Walsh says regular taxi users could be serviced by these retrofitted cabs, but “priority must be given” to those with accessibility issues.

As for rates, the Board agreed that the meter rate should be the same as regular cabs.

As for the size of the cab itself, the Highway Traffic Act is quite specific.