Town places emphasis on Strathmore’s taxi industry

Miriam Ostermann
Times Association Editor

 

Town council tasked administration to review the Taxi Bylaw, after concerns from numerous citizens alleged the industry of turning a blind eye to the bylaw’s regulations and raised red flags among councillors regarding health and safety.
Councillor Bob Sobol addressed the issue on July 22, resulting in a motion for administration to review bylaw 08-25 in a revised motion pertaining to the licencing regulation and control of the taxi industry, and bring it back to council for consideration.
“I reviewed the bylaw and I must admit it does contain a number of rules and regulations, which are designed to provide our citizens and visitors with an acceptable level of service in the taxi industry,” said Councillor Bob Sobol.
“Regrettably I’ve had many experiences passed on to me from our citizens, which suggest that a number of these rules and regulations are being ignored. Without going into great detail, it’s fair to say that some action is needed which will be designed to raise the level of service of our taxi service in the immediate future.”
Sobol also requested the appointment of a chief taxi inspector in order to provide consistency to the industry and allow for complaints to be heard. According to the Municipal Government Act, council is able to pass bylaws under the safety, health, and welfare of people and property, transportation and transportation systems, and business, business activity and persons engaged in business. The act furthermore recognizes that council by bylaw may establish committees and other bodies.
“There are different ways to regulate the issue from taxi commissions to peace officers to administrators,” said Sobol. “Personally, I feel that appointing one individual to oversee this area would be a benefit to all.”
He also referred to wheelchair accessibility, which is lacking in Strathmore, and his desire for its implementation – an opinion shared by other councillors. “Sitting on the Seniors’ Advisory Committee, I have to echo Councillor Sobol’s concerns, and definitely the one with regards to wheelchairs,” said Councillor Denise Peterson. “That’s the one that they’ve made council aware of and also issues related to safety. I know that when I say this, I can say it on behalf of the committee, this is something that they’ll welcome.”
Chief Administrative Officer Dwight Stanford, said administration is already talking with other communities, including Airdrie, about their bylaws, with intentions of making the ones in Strathmore tougher. He also stated that currently only peace officers are able to write certain tickets, which he hopes could be changed in the future to include bylaw officers. However, he agreed with council that complaints regarding the taxi industry have been piling up.
While the emphasis was placed on wheelchair accessibility and the aging population, Councillor Pat Fule was more worried about his students.
“Being a teacher at Strathmore High School, we have a lot of students who use the taxi services,” said Fule. “So you have minors riding these vehicles, and so I think safety and health and quality of service is a huge thing as far as the young people are concerned too.”
With Mayor Ell absent from the July 22 council meeting, council voted to task administration with reviewing and revising the Taxi Bylaw to be brought back before council.