Hope on the horizon for Uber riders, drivers in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary

Yahoonews.com
Nov. 11, 2015
By Steve Mertl

Some of Canada’s biggest cities appear to be closer than ever to ending their war with Uber, the commercial ride-sharing operation that has blown open the traditional taxi and limousine business.

One of the biggest optimists? That would be Ian Black, general manager of Uber Canada.

“I think the questions around regulation for TNCs [transportation network companies] like Uber are quickly being settled,” he said in an interview with Yahoo Canada.

After unsuccessfully trying to block it in court, Toronto’s city council signaled that it’s ready to accommodate UberX, the private car-for-hire service, via regulatory changes. It asked Uber to suspend operations in the city until the new rules are in place.

Black said he expects a proposal should go before council by spring but gave no sign Uber will stop offering its services until then.

A private member’s bill that includes plans to regulate app-based services including ride sharing has also passed second reading in the Ontario legislature.

Vancouver, which so far seems to have kept Uber out, is also working on amending its rules but needs the B.C. government to tweak provincial licensing and insurance legislation.

Calgary is also investigating ways of allowing Uber-type services to operate once rule changes are in place, but the company began operating there last month. Mayor Naheed Nenshi warned no one should use Uber or work for it until new regulations are in place.

“Wherever possible we want to work in partnership with regulators and politicians to create regulated framework for ride sharing,” Black said, but “in some instances it makes sense to have consumers and drivers be able to experience that product ahead of a regulatory discussion and that’s certainly the case in Calgary.”