Vancouver city council to revisit hold on new taxi licences

UPDATE (Oct.19, 2016): The City of Vancouver has voted to extend the moratorium on new taxi licenses. 

Vancouver city council is set to consider whether a moratorium on new taxi licences should be upheld.

It’s been a year since city councilors voted not to issue any new licenses. Then, earlier this year, the province announced it would be conducting a province-wide review of ride-sharing and taxi services.

Geoff Meggs, a Vision Vancouver city councilor, says it only makes sense they wait for the results of the province’s review.

“It seems wrong to charge ahead and make a decision that may be rendered out of whack by what unfolds in the next couple of months by the province,” Meggs said.

What’s more, the city and the Passenger Transportation Board continue to be at odds over accessible cabs and whether suburban taxi companies should be allowed to operate in Vancouver.

Add ride-sharing companies like Uber into the mix, and Meggs argues there’s just too much uncertainty.

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“Until we know, it could be a waste of effort for the city to go on its own,” Meggs said.

WATCH: Vancouver city council is deciding later this week if the new taxi moratorium should be upheld.

1:32 City of Vancouver reviews taxi license moratorium

However, that reasoning is prompting NPA councilor Melissa De Genova to question why city council might take a wait-and-see approach on this issue when on others – specifically, the licensing of medicinal marijuana dispensaries – they’ve forged ahead.

Council’s October 2015 vote for a taxi license moratorium was unanimous.