RNC chief, St. John's councillor meet over taxi industry concerns

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.

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O'Leary told the St. John's Morning Show Thursday thatshe 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 Wednesdayrevealed serious gaps in oversight of taxi drivers in St. John's, with the onus falling onindividual 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. GeoffHigdon

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 veryarchaic. It needs to be updated. And what happens in our jurisdiction in St. John'smeans we have less control sometimes overissuesthat should be in our governance."

'This should be a priority'

O'Leary met with RNC Chief Bill JanesThursday morning on the topic.

That meeting "went well," an RNC spokesperson told CBC News.

"[O'Leary] expressed her concern around the issue of improvingtaxi safety in St. John's," Const. GeoffHigdon 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 organizingadiscussionthat will include taxi operators and the RNC.

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