Proposed Toronto ride-share driver cap sent back to city staff after marathon meeting | CBC News

Mayor Olivia Chow’s executive committee has asked city staff for more information before moving ahead with a proposed cap on the number of ride-share drivers in Toronto, after a marathon session Tuesday that heard from dozens of people voicing concerns. 

Chow tried to limit the number of Private Transportation Company (PTC) licences last October, but backed off following a legal threat from Uber. 

City staff had recommended limiting the number of ride-share licences for Uber and Lyft drivers to 80,429 — the number of licences as of Dec. 1 — with an exemption for zero-emission and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

But some speakers at Tuesday’s meeting said that number is far too high and won’t help increase drivers’ earnings. 

“Without addressing the over supply, drivers will remain in precarity, road congestion will worsen, and the city’s transit and environmental goals will remain unchanged,” said Earla Phillips, president of the Rideshare Drivers Association of Ontario.

A representative from Uber argued a cap would hurt drivers and riders alike.

Jake Brockman, senior manager of public policy for Uber Canada, told the committee the cap would make it harder for people to get around the city by making less rides available and would impact opportunities for newcomers. 

Earlier in the day, Chow said she was confident the city’s done enough research to bring in a cap on the number of ride-share drivers in Toronto. 

But after hearing from speakers, Chow said she wants to ensure that the city gets it right. 

Her motion to refer the proposed cap back to staff asks them to look into the number of things, including the impact of ride-share drivers on traffic congestion, how many drivers also hold licenses in other municipalities and regulating the fares charged by ride-share companies. 

“We have to do it right so that the drivers are protected, the consumers are protected, so everything is transparent,” she said. 

The city’s research found about 14 of every 100 vehicles in downtown Toronto are driving for ride-share companies. On average, about a third of those vehicles are driving around empty while waiting for another trip request. 

While the driver cap has taken the headlines, the Rideshare Drivers Association of Ontario is also calling on the city to ban Uber from using its new AI-powered fare system, which it says is resulting in drivers being paid less.

Ahead of the meeting, Chow said the city wants to make the changes to help drivers, who a study found are making less than $6 per hour once their expenses are factored in. 

“We know that $6 an hour is not enough for this city, for anyone to survive in this city,” Chow said, noting that’s dropped from $8 per hour a year ago. 

“We’ll be working hard to help these workers to get better wages,” she said.