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The Uber debate is back at city hall today as councillors take a closer look at how the city is enforcing and prosecuting bylaw infractions.
Coun. Janet Davis is presenting a motion requesting more information on a number of topics relating to the ride-sharing app including what enforcement action is being taken against Uber and what the city’s legal strategy is for addressing non-compliance with city bylaws.
Many opponents of Uber claim the service is operating illegally in the city because Uber is not licensed as a taxi broker and UberX drivers do not possess commercial insurance.
“Uber, the company, has to register as a taxi broker in the city of Toronto. The definition is very clear. They are delivering a taxi service. So we want to know, I want to know what the city is doing to enforce that new bylaw,” Davis told CP24 Tuesday morning.
The service has been a hotly debated topic at city hall in recent months and in September, council voted in favour of Mayor John Tory’s motion proposing to start the process of regulating Uber.
City staff will report back on new regulations this spring.
“It is concerning to me that in the middle of this whole debate, Uber should be backing off and saying, ‘You know what, until these issues are resolved, we should just back off somewhat and let the city figure out its pieces,’” Coun. Joe Mihevc said Tuesday.
Instead, Mihevc said the company is choosing to disregard the bylaw as it currently stands.
“My question is … is this a company that frankly you can deal with,” he added. “That any deal you come up with, will they be trustworthy at the end of the day.”
