Mississauga to Launch Transportation Network Company Licensing Pilot Project

At this week’s General Committee meeting, City of Mississauga Council passed a motion to approve the Transportation Network Company (TNC) Licensing Pilot Project. The 18 month Pilot Project will permit the operation of TNCs in Mississauga. The Pilot Project is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2017.

The motion will be on the March 29, 2017 Council agenda for final approval.

“The Transportation Network Company Licensing Pilot Project will provide a regulatory framework in the interest of public safety and consumer protection,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner of Transportation and Works. “The Pilot Project will enable us to test and evaluate our framework. At the conclusion of the pilot project, we will be in a better position to recommend to Council permanent regulations for TNCs.”

“Our plan is an important opportunity to level the playing field by modernizing rules and regulations to ensure Mississauga is a city in step with the times, and with what the public wants,” Mayor Crombie said. “I want to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of Council, Mississauga’s professional staff, industry stakeholders, residents and all those who worked with the Public Vehicle Pilot Program Committee to bring forward a responsible, balanced and much needed made in Mississauga plan that ensures public safety, consumer protection and works for taxpayers.”

Elements of the Pilot Program include:

• A By-law enacted for the rules and regulations of the Pilot Project
• A By-law enacted to amend the Public Vehicle Licensing By-law 420-04 to allow taxi and limousine operators to compete with TNCs
• Licenced TNCs must supply quarterly confirmation from an independent auditor to confirm the information provided to the City is accurate for the purposes of enforcement
• Requirement that a TNC Brokerage licensing fee of $20,000 be paid to the City of Mississauga and a TNC Vehicle Operator licensing fee of 30 cents for each ride originating within Mississauga be collected and remitted by the TNC on the 15th of each month.

Upon completion of the Pilot Project, staff will report back to General Committee with recommendations on existing and future regulations.

The regulatory framework for the Pilot Project can be found here: Proposed TNC Regulatory Framework.

Background:

Public Vehicle Pilot Program Committee

Council created a Public Vehicle Pilot Program Committee to hear from industry stakeholders, experts and the public and to develop a pilot program to allow Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) to operate in Mississauga. The Public Vehicle Pilot Program Committee held five meetings and was dissolved on November 9, 2016.

Public Vehicle Licensing By-law

The City of Mississauga’s Public Vehicle Licensing By-law regulates transportation services provided by public vehicles (taxis and limousines). This bylaw ensures public and consumer safety, driver safety and consumer protection for public vehicle transportation services. TNCs currently operating in Mississauga are unlicensed.

Municipal Benchmarking

A comparison and analysis of municipalities who have approved TNC licensing (Appendix 2 – Proposed TNC Regulatory Framework) helped staff develop an appropriate framework for Mississauga’s Pilot Project. The implementation of the Pilot Project provides an appropriate regulatory framework in the interest of public safety and consumer protection.