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| Welcome to Toronto, Uber |
| 03 May 16 21:23:26 |
From: brewnoserii@gmail.com CTV Toronto - Tuesday, May 3, 2016 Toronto councillors vote to legalize ride-sharing service Uber Following a marathon day at city hall, councillors have voted in favour of legalizing ridesharing services like Uber. The vote Tuesday night follows a number of amendments to the proposed ground transportation rules by Mayor John Tory. Two weeks ago members of the licensing and standards committee rejected a number of proposed regulations that would have created a separate licensing category for ride-sharing services but on Tuesday Tory moved a motion at council reinstating most of those regulations while also making a number of changes to the initial guidelines prepared by city staff. The changes include a new rule that would set a minimum price of $3.25 for all Uber X fares (the current base price is $2.50) as well as another rule that would allow taxis to use surge-pricing like Uber but only for fares that are booked through an online app. The motion to set the minimum price at no lower than $3.25 carried 35-7. The motion also stipulates that both taxis and Uber vehicles be outfitted with winter tires from Dec. 1 to March 15. It carried 27-15. The initial recommendations drew criticism from some for removing a requirement for taxis to be outfitted with winter tires. “I believe this motion represents the best possible way to do the two things I have talked about, which is to regulate these companies that have come into the marketplace and to make sure that the taxi industry can survive and thrive going forward,” Tory said on Tuesday afternoon, as he tabled the amended motion. Representatives for the taxi industry have said that the initial package of guidelines effectively created a two-tiered system where taxi drivers would be held to one set of rules and Uber drivers would be held to a different set of rules. Tory said the framework he is proposing “most closely follows” the advice of staff while also taking into account feedback from the public. One of the other substantial changes covered by the amendments includes a move to require that all drivers for ridesharing services submit documentation to the city ^^^^^^^^^ for approval, including a copy of their driver’s license, vehicle inspection reports and insurance. Previously the guidelines required only that drivers submit such documentations to the ridesharing service. Discussing the amendments with CP24 on Tuesday afternoon, Toronto Taxi Alliance spokesperson Sam Moini said he needs more time to look into them and determine whether or not they are fair. Moini, however, said he is pleased to see a standard minimum fare of $3.25 for both taxis and Uber vehicles. “I think it is important that everyone follows the same rules. The $3.25 fee is standard for the taxi drivers so it should be for Uber too,” he said. Uber, who has previously said it would pull out of Toronto if the city approved it’s first proposal, has not commented on the amended plan. Crowd packs council meeting Dozens of advocates for the taxi industry and Uber have packed the chamber for today’s debate, which is expected to go until at least 8 p.m. and may continue tomorrow. The Uber supporters are wearing blue shirts while the taxi supporters are mostly wearing yellow shirts that read ‘No two-tiered system.” At one point, former city councillor Doug Ford did show up in the chamber and put on one of the yellow shirts to show his support for the taxi industry. Ford, however, told reporters that his appearance was not a “political move” and has nothing to do with him possibly seeking to replace the late Rob Ford on council. “I don’t need to have a political move. These are people (taxi drivers) who have supported us for 16 years and I am here to support them any way I can,” he said. “I don’t believe Uber should even be here. It is like me driving down the street and just picking people up. It’s totally unfair.” ب_ب Dozens of speakers There are a total of 69 people that are expected to address council at today’s meeting, including numerous representatives from the taxi industry. One of those speakers, ITaxiworkers President Sajid Mughal, told CP24 that he is hopeful that council will ultimately pass a package of regulations that are different than the ones initially brought forward by city staff last month. “It will be absolutely different because most councillors have their own opinions. There will be motion after motion after motion and by the end it will be entirely different from what came from the committee and what came from the staff,” he said. I think in the end wisdom will prevail and the consumer will win and the cab driver will win.” Uber Canada has pushed for the creation of a new licensing class for its drivers in Toronto and has compiled more than 85,000 signatures on a petition calling on council to support “smart ridesharing regulations.” “The city staff report provides a really good framework. It was very well researched, it provides regulations that follow the leadoff other cities around the world that have done this and it creates an open space, which I think residents want,” Uber Canada General Manager Ian Black told CP24 on Tuesday morning. --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2) |
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