By Cecilia Nasmith

Future regulations governing taxi rates and vehicles for hire in the Town of Cobourg will be debated, following Councillor Adam Bureau's presentation of a notice of motion at this week's committee-of-the-whole council meeting.

Bureau's motion noted that the $1 fuel surcharge authorized for the town's taxicabs April 4, 2022, expired in October. It also noted the difficulties Cobourg taxis have with the current tight regulatory framework.

Bureau's motion referred to the larger industry of vehicles for hire, including taxis, designated driving, transportation network companies and limousine services – which he believes would best operate under “a new harmonized and equitable VFH (vehicles for hire) bylaw that would ensure appropriate health and safety, consumer protection, nuisance control and legislative requirements for the VFH industry.”

Until such time as this can be done, the motion also calls for the reinstatement of the $1 fuel surcharge “until such time as staff report back and council deliberates on regulatory options.”