Uber complains city council’s ‘unworkable rules’ will prevent them from coming to Calgary

Globalnews.ca
Feb. 9, 2016
By Melissa Ramsay

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Uber complains city council’s ‘unworkable rules’ will prevent them from coming to Calgary

Ride-sharing service Uber is blasting Calgary’s city council in a letter sent to their subscribers on Monday.

In the message, Uber states that although they’ve made meaningful progress in Alberta with Edmonton adopting ride-sharing regulations, here in Calgary “things don’t look so good.”

“Despite our efforts to work collaboratively, city staff have drafted unworkable rules that would prevent us from coming to Calgary.”

Uber is concerned about amendments to the Livery Transport Bylaw which would force drivers to undergo a police background check, be properly insured, hold a proper Class 4 licence and have their vehicle undergo safety checks.

The company complains the proposed rules “create too much red tape.”

According to Uber, the proposed changes would require drivers to pay almost $500 in fees and annual administrative costs, obtain a police check from Calgary police instead of a national service, get vehicle inspections that are “onerous and unnecessary” and provide “unnecessary” data collection.

The ride-sharing company used the letter to urge supporters to contact their city councillor to say they want Uber, and encourage them to work on “smart rules for ride-sharing.”

On Monday, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the city just wants to make the service fair and safe.

“This is just a tactic, they use it a lot,” Nenshi said.

Currently, the City of Calgary’s Livery Transportation Bylaw does not allow unlicensed private for-hire vehicles to operate in Calgary due to a variety of public safety concerns.

Council is set to review proposed amendments to the Livery Transport Bylaw no later than Feb. 22.