RNC chief, St. John's councillor meet over taxi industry concerns
Coun. Sheilagh O'Leary says municipal act often leaves city's 'hands tied'
St. John's Coun. Sheilagh O'Leary says she's trying to figure out how the city can begin increasing its role in regulating the taxi industry, and has met with the chief of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary over her concerns.
O'Leary told the St. John's Morning Show Thursday that she was "astonished and frustrated by the discovery of a lack of regulation" regarding taxi drivers.
"This isn't just about women," O'Leary said. "This is about everybody. This is about children. We put children in cabs and folks with certain disabilities."
A CBC News investigation published Wednesday revealed serious gaps in oversight of taxi drivers in St. John's, with the onus falling on individual companies to screen potential drivers.
Other Atlantic Canadian cities, like Halifax and Fredericton, N.B., have regulations in place on a municipal level to ensure drivers provide criminal background checks.
The chief agreed that this should be a priority and offered to help in any way that he can.- Const. Geoff Higdon
While many questions still remain, O'Leary said often the city's "hands are tied" because of the municipalities act.
"We are oftentimes held hostage by our St. John's municipalities act," O'Leary said.
"It's very archaic. It needs to be updated. And what happens in our jurisdiction in St. John's means we have less control sometimes over issues that should be in our governance."
'This should be a priority'
O'Leary met with RNC Chief Bill Janes Thursday morning on the topic.
That meeting "went well," an RNC spokesperson told CBC News.
"[O'Leary] expressed her concern around the issue of improving taxi safety in St. John's," Const. Geoff Higdon said.
"The chief agreed that this should be a priority and offered to help in any way that he can going forward."
O'Leary said she is planning on meeting with city staff and the deputy mayor on Monday. She said she's also organizing a discussion that will include taxi operators and the RNC.
With files from the St. John's Morning Show