On April 13, 2016, City Council approved the report entitled “Regulating Vehicles for Hire in the City of Ottawa – Taxis, Limousines and Private Transportation Companies” (ACS2016-COS-EPS-0012). As a result, a new Vehicle-for-Hire By-law was approved, that included a licensing system for Private Transportation Companies (PTCs) in the City of Ottawa, effective September 30, 2016.

As part of its deliberations, Council delegated to the General Manager, Emergency and Protective Services (EPS), the authority to negotiate, finalize and execute the establishment of a voluntary per-trip surcharge for accessibility to be paid by licensed PTCs, with any funds received from the surcharge to be directed to a dedicated reserve fund.  

Council further directed that the General Manager, Emergency and Protective Services work with the City’s Accessibility Office, the Accessibility Advisory Committee, Para Transpo and other internal and external stakeholders to develop a strategy with respect to how new fees generated through an accessibility levy could be used to offset costs for a number of programs supporting accessible transportation.  

The Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund aims to address the reality that many Private Transportation Companies (PTCs), such as Uber Canada, cannot currently accommodate persons who use mobility devices including power wheelchairs and scooters.

The General Manager, Emergency and Protective Services will respond to Council’s direction in a report to the Community and Protective Services Committee and Council in June 2018. 
 
Note: The first thirty (30) minutes of each session is reserved for registration, with each consultation session lasting approximately two (2) hours.