In keeping with the public health order, masks will be mandatory in all taxis as of Friday, July 24.
Passengers and drivers are responsible for bringing their own masks.
If you are unable to wear a mask due to medical concerns, please phone the taxi company you are booking with to confirm a vehicle who is able to assist you without a mask.
License Renewals
On Tuesday, August 4 the customer service centres at Alderney Gate and Bayers Road will be reopening with regular hours to the public. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, all customer service centres were closed to the public since March. A full update is provided here.
Those with Taxi and Limousine licenses that expired in March, April, May, June and July will be required to have all updated documents submitted to a Customer Service Centre by October 1, 2020.
Owner’s who have requested their vehicle insurance be reduced to cancelled during these months and had their licenses temporarily suspended must provide updated documentation prior to returning to work. Please phone 311 to request a call back from Licensing staff.
Please note there may be a delay in returning your call or scheduling inspections as there is an increase in the number of requests at this time. Taxi inspections will begin on August 4, 2020.
Due to COVID-19 procedures, there is a delay in receiving a Child Abuse Registry Check. Please submit documentation to the Department of Community Services in advance to ensure timely delivery.
If you are called for a taxi inspection, please note the following requirements:
- You must arrive 10 minutes early to your inspection. Failure to appear on time may result in a cancelled appointment.
- Proceed directly to the ramp at the back of the building when you arrive. Please stay in your vehicle until directed by Inspection Officer.
- Please wear a mask at all times during the inspection and bring your own pen.
- Prior to the inspection beginning, please fasten all seatbelts within the vehicle and ensure windshield wipers, windows, locks and emergency break are in good working condition.
New Drivers or Conditional Drivers
Due to COVID-19, TIANS is closed and unable to provide any testing to applicants. Those with Conditional Driver’s licenses and who have been unable to complete the National Certification testing will be required to register for the testing within 30 days of HRM offices reopening. This date will be noted on our website at such time. If you have questions about your application or Conditional Drivers License please phone 311 to request to speak to Licensing Staff.
Our intent is to ensure that the industry is able to continue to operate with minimal interruptions caused by COVID – 19. The health and safety of HRM residents and staff are our top priority.
Should the industry have any questions or concerns please contact 311 and Licensing Staff are available to address any queries.
Information from the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA)
The Licensing Authority has been in contact with the Taxi/Limousine Industry and the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA). The NSHA has provided the following helpful information for all taxi and limousine drivers relative to COVID-19:
COVID-19 Exposure Risk:
The Nova Scotia Interim Guidance: Public Health Measures for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) guides Nova Scotia public health practices in relations to managing COVID-19 cases and contacts. Depending on exposure, there are three categories of risk level (high, medium, or low) for various contacts. The risk level that would apply to taxi and limousine drivers is Low Risk:
Lower/no risk, aka, not considered a contact. This includes people who:
- Have short interactions with a confirmed case. Taxi drivers would fit here. For these groups, there is no monitoring required and no public health follow-up. If there was an unusual event that occurred during the fare, drivers could certainly follow-up with public health. If there are updates that change the risk category for taxi drivers then the NSHA and NS Public Health Authority would let taxi drivers know immediately.
Precautionary Measures for Taxi Operations. Keep yourself and your passengers protected:
To ensure you keep yourself and passengers protected, you can take the following steps:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Ask passengers to sit in the back to create physical distance.
- Have tissues and hand sanitizer available for your passengers if possible.
- Ensure air system is not set to recirculate.
- Dispose of all waste in a small waste bag, tie it and dispose of it in regular garbage
Disinfect your vehicle regularly
- Plan to clean and disinfect your vehicle as often as possible—especially after you drop off passengers who appear to be sick and after every medical passenger. Pay close attention to surfaces that are touched often by passengers.
Use a disinfectant that is pre-approved by the Health Canada for use against novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This information can be found at the link below.
Here is another link from Michigan State University that provides some helpful tips for disinfecting hard surfaces:
- Wash hands thoroughly after cleaning vehicle.
Other links that may be of assistance are: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus and https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/