On August 3, 2020, the local-- and only-- public transportation service in Gander NL, Busy Bee Cabs, reduced its hours to no longer run 24/7. The new hours are Sunday-Thursday 05:00-23:00 and Friday/Saturday remaining open for 24 hours of service. 

This is a result of the decrease in services being requested in Gander due to COVID-19 closures. In addition, the expenses to operate a public transportation service, such as this taxi company, can be extreme due to the lack of regulations on insurance policies, despite recent changes to the Provincial Automobile Insurance Act. Due to the decrease in revenue with the same expenses, Busy Bee Cabs had to reduce its hours to be able to operate when the greatest number of people request them.

However, people still need access to public transportation at all times. An individual may need public transportation to access non-emergency medical care, their work, or to safely return home. Newfoundland and Labrador has the highest reported incidents of impaired driving of all the provinces-- a rate that is four times higher than the national average. If there is no access to public transportation, it is likely this rate could increase. 

With this in mind, I, Mary Feltham, began to offer rides for free to anyone who may need it during the hours Busy Bee Cabs were closed. In one night, I had up to 8 individuals request a ride, proving there is still a need for public transportation between 23:00-05:00 during Sunday-Thursday.

Therefore, I am creating a motion to bring to the Town of Gander to mandate that public transportation (an essential service), such as taxi services, are open and operational indefinitely. To do this, the Town will work with the Provincial Government to mandate a maximum on insurance policies for taxi companies to ensure they are able to operate at their highest efficiency. 

Proposed Motion:

WHEREAS, Gander and area does not have access to public transportation 24/7 due to the closure of Busy Bee Cabs, the only public transportation service, between the hours of 23:00-05:00 during Sunday through Thursday; and

WHEREAS, Gander and surrounding area (Benton, Appleton, Glenwood) is inhabited by 14 740  residents that may be in need of a public transportation at any time; and

WHEREAS, 955 residents within Gander and surrounding area rely on commute methods other than their being their own driver; and

WHEREAS, the rate of reported impaired driving incidents in Newfoundland and Labrador is four times higher than the national average, making Newfoundland and Labrador the province with the most reported cases of impaired driving incidents; and

WHEREAS, Newfoundland and Labrador taxi companies, such as Busy Bee Cabs are subject to insurance fees up to $15 000 per car due to vague guidelines of the regulations for fleet rating in the Provincial Automobile Insurance resulting; 

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Gander mandate public transportation, such as the services offered by the local taxi company, Busy Bee Cabs, to be operational indefinitely. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Gander advocate that the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador work to amend the Automobile Insurance Act to regulate a maximum on insurance policies for taxi companies, or mandate insurers to engage fleet rating, to ensure protection of the operations of public transportation, an essential service.