A recently passed bylaw meant to regulate ride-sharing businesses in Kingston would have required Uber and Lyft drivers to to follow new regulations by Sept. 15, but as of Sept. 17 Uber drivers are still driving unregulated in Kingston.
The bylaw has been put on hold after Global News learned the Canadian Competition Bureau may be investigating the Kingston Area Taxi Commission’s Bylaw 4, says Uber driver James Litchfield, who says he was the one who filed the complaint to the Competition Bureau and is working with an investigator.
“He believes that there be something in there, I don’t know what, but there was definitely some stuff in there that was worth looking into for them,” says Litchfield.
It’s not clear if the complaint is why the commission decided to hold it, but Chloe Draeger who sits on the board says they knew something had to be changed.
“Many of the provisions of bylaw 4 did not create level playing field, it actually created a playing field that favoured the taxi industry,” says Draeger.
Litchfield tells us he initially reported this bylaw to the Competition Bureau after researching several restrictions listed in the regional legislation. Of those rules, new drivers were required to pay a registration fee of $600 – $900 for the first year, and at least half of that every year after.
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The controversial bylaw was passed by the Kingston Area Taxi Commission in early June. It would have also required Uber and other ride-sharing businesses to pay a $40,000 registration fee to remain operating in Kingston.
The Kingston Area Taxi Commission said the bylaw was meant to level the playing field for all ride-sharing and taxi businesses in the city. But for many Uber drivers, the bylaw meant the end of their employment with Uber.
“I’m relieved that I don’t have to move to another city now. I don’t have to leave my family,” says Raymond Paquette, an Uber driver in the city of Kingston.
Other restrictions of the bylaw included limiting just 50 cars in a 24 hour period, and not allowing Uber to provide wheelchair accessible transportation.
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Since the news broke, the bylaw has been removed from the taxi commission website. The commission would not clarify that the bylaw was being reviewed by the Competition Bureau, but they did say that the bylaw is being discussed in further detail at a meeting on Wednesday.
A statement found on the commission’s website under Bylaw 4 reads, “Following additional legal consultations, it has been determined that the bylaw merits further review before implementation.”
The Competition Bureau confirmed they are investigating the claim against the Kingston Area Taxi Commission.
Draeger tells Global News their goal now is to find balance that will work for everyone involved.
“It’s important that we have smart regulation that takes into account the effect of ride-sharing on the entire population.”
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