Committee Votes Against Recommendations To Allow Uber To Operate Legally

A group of taxi and limousine drivers gathered at the former Montreal Technoparc, near Cité du Cinéma in Pointe-St-Charles, and slowly drove to the Trudeau airport in unison from there.

The taxi drivers argue that the ridesharing service Uber Pop creates unfair competition because Uber’s drivers and vehicles aren’t required to live up to the same requirements as others in the taxi business, one of the most thoroughly-regulated industries in Denmark.

“Since Uber has been on the market, my income has gone down by 30 percent”, said Michele Kaiser, who has been driving taxis in Brussels for more than 30 years.

“The government won’t be taking action in terms of issuing fines – full stop”, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.

Greens Minister Shane Rattenbury, who is assisting Mr Barr on transport reform, said it was not clear when Uber would arrive although it may do so before regulation is introduced.

“We can’t have Uber having an outrageous advantage over the taxi industry and that’s what the Transportation Network Licence does”.

Council has final say and could overrule the committee.

The day began with mostly UberX drivers speaking in favour of the ride-sharing app while Karygiannis grilled them over whether or not they paid taxes and had proper insurance.

In the YouGov poll, 55 per cent of respondents said the government should legalise Uber.

Mr Rattenbury, who addressed the protesting taxi drivers on Wednesday morning, said Canberrans were looking for better transport services and many would welcome Uber. “The mayor has got to do a reality check”, he said Wednesday.

“We have had a very open consultation process and have received a lot of submission from those actively supporting to those totally opposing it”.

Taxi drivers are squaring off against Uber drivers against the backdrop of a $150 million lawsuit filed by the taxi industry on Monday.

“We are human beings”, said Al Khatib.

The bylaw currently doesn’t impose a minimum fare on Uber, which is critical, said van Hemmen.

“Our message is to the public, to be careful”, said Jamie Donnelly, president of Blue and White Taxi, whose cabs appeared at the rally.

About 100 people attended the event. They’re seeking damages and an injunction against Uber and its Edmonton-based drivers.

A majority of Hongkongers who used the car-hailing service Uber said they had a positive experience, compared to less than a quarter of taxi customers, according to a new YouGov survey.

“There are strong suggestions that we should just deregulate everything at this point and then there are other suggestions that we should regulate certain things tighter than we do right now, so I think council has a lot of options before us”.