City’s Uber committee questioned for lack of transparency

Mississauga.com
June 29, 2016
By Rachael Williams

The openness and transparency of a Mississauga committee was called into question when councillors closed the doors partway through a meeting that should have been open to the public.

On Monday, the city’s public vehicle pilot program committee closed the council chamber doors and went to the caucus room at City Hall to wrap up a meeting on the future of transportation network companies (TNCs). Relocation was the result of audience members from the taxi industry shouting profanities and insults at Mayor Bonnie Crombie and committee members regarding their handling of the Uber file. 

Once in the caucus room, the media and members of the public were shut out from the conversation.

 “I think it was unfortunate that we had to move the meeting because of the public outburst, but if you’re not going to allow us to have a conversation in an open forum, our options are limited,” said Coun. Karen Ras, vice-chair of the committee.

The public outbursts prevented two delegates from the taxi industry, Al Moore and Peter Pellier, from speaking at the meeting.

“When they cleared the room, that was the end of it. We weren’t invited to go with them and they clearly didn’t want to speak to us,” said Moore.

“There’s a lot of frustration in the industry and people feel like they aren’t being represented,” he went on.

The topic sparking the upheaval was regarding background checks of Uber drivers.

Shouts of “shame” and “criminal” were directed at the mayor, requiring council security guards and Peel Regional Police to intervene.

Crystal Greer, the City’s director of legislative services said the last 45 minutes of the meeting had to be conducted in camera because of concerns about safety and the security of property, which are criteria allowed under the Municipal Act.

When the meeting was reconvened in the caucus room, Mark Sexsmith, committee member representing the taxi industry, did not participate, as per the direction of those he represents.

Starr said the frustration is trying to mould two different models together to create a fair and equitable solution between taxis and Uber.

He added, the main point of discussion in the caucus room was their inability to do so by the June 29 deadline, as well as future directions.

Starr told The News the committee will probably adjourn until early September.

Until that time, staff will continue to enforce the “capture” option, which means if Uber drivers do not follow the same rules as taxis, they will be ticketed

The maximum fine for an individual is $25,000 and for a corporation, $50,000.