City council will soon debate the merits of an updated taxi bylaw, one that would require all companies to have security cameras and an electronic payment system in its vehicles by next year.
The final version of the Vehicle for Hire bylaw was presented to council this week, and will start the bylaw process next Monday.
Last updated in 2011, the new version of the bylaw would also require companies to have at least one accessible vehicle available for hire at all times.
In order to make it easier and more affordable, companies could share an accessible vehicle if they wanted to, according to an administrative report.
Other changes would also require companies to increase their liability insurance from $1 million to $2 million.
But both taxi companies surveyed in April - Premier Cabs and Victory Taxi - were against that recommendation.
Potential taxi drivers would be allowed to obtain a permit if they haven’t been convicted of more than two crimes in the past 10 years.
As it stands, a person can obtain a taxi permit despite having been convicted of three crimes in the past five years.
Council also has the option to stay with the current bylaw, or to direct administration to do more work on it.