Calgary's taxi advisory body faces review in wake of ride-hailing services

With the advent of ride-hailing services like Uber, Calgary's taxi advisory body needs to change to reflect the changing industry, members of city council agreed Wednesday.

The city's transportation committee unanimously endorsed a plan to revamp the way the Taxi Limousine Advisory Committee (TLAC) operates and what it does.

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Made up of representatives from the taxi industry, local hotel association, airport authority, police service, Tourism Calgary, and members of the general public, TLAC currently provides advice to council on issues related to taxi and limo service.

But, with ride-hailing services like TappCar now operating in the city and the expected return of Uber to the Calgary market, TLAC itself is calling for changes in the way it operates.

"I think we've reached the end of the current model," said Gord Lowe, a former member of city council who now serves as a TLAC member.

Lowe noted there is growing integration between communities in the region, too, and it's time to look at rules governing where taxis and taxi-like services can operate.

"Can you call a Calgary company taxi to come and get up you in Airdrie or Rocky View County?" he said.

"Can a taxi from Chestermere take a passenger to Airdrie and be called to pick that passenger up from Airdrie? I mean, these are all sorts of overlapping questions that I think we at least have to start a conversation about."

If city council approves the TLAC review, it would be completed by October 2017.

Uber is expected to resume service in Calgary soon, possibly as early as next month.