WHEREAS the Town of The Blue Mountains faces challenges related to limited access to transportation, and there exists a pressing need for a ride-sharing service to address transportation gaps within our community;
AND WHEREAS Rideshare services are increasingly relied upon by seniors, students, visitors and tourists, and residents looking for safe, affordable, convenient, and reliable ways to travel;
AND WHEREAS the standardization and consistency of regulations across municipalities, particularly in Ontario, can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory framework;
AND WHEREAS transferring the responsibility of ride-share regulations and licensing to the provincial level would contribute to a more streamlined and uniform governance structure, while eliminating associated red tape and unnecessary administrative costs;
THEREFORE BE it RESOLVED THAT the Town of The Blue Mountains Council hereby expresses its support for the migration of ride-share regulations and licensing from the municipal level to the provincial level;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Town of The Blue Mountains Council formally requests the Government of Ontario to initiate the transfer of responsibilities in the interest of creating a more coherent and standardized regulatory framework for ride-sharing services across the province;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT that copies of this motion be distributed to the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation; the Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; the Honourable David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament for Northumberland-Peterborough South; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus, the County of Northumberland; and all six neighbouring Northumberland lower-tier municipalities, and all Ontario municipalities.