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Montreal
The Dashboard
May 2016 //
Canadian Government Executive /
17
Ottawa
Ottawa released new proposed regulations that would
allow Uber to operate in the nation’s capital. Some of the
proposed rules are:
•Any driver who would transport people would have to
undergo a police record check and provide a copy of
their driving record. Uber drivers must resubmit annu-
ally, while cab drivers would submit them every three
years.
•Drivers must have at least $5 million in liability insur-
ance.
•Private cabs like Uber have to pay a 10 ½ cent charge
per ride and an annual licence fee to help cover the
cost of inspections and enforcement.
Montreal
Uber Montreal has launched an email campaign ask-
ing its subscribers to write the MNAs and ask Quebec’s
minister of transportation to allow Uber to operate in the
city and that any proposed regulations “doesn’t turn ride
sharing into taxi.”
Minister Jacques Daoust is expected to announce
proposed regulations sometime this spring. In March, he
said Uber was illegal, but has since said the issue was
“more complicated.”
Toronto
Uber has send a mass email to its users in Toronto
threatening to leave the city if city council passes restric-
tions to ride-hailing this spring.
“Toronto, your ride is at risk. Last week, the Licens-
ing and Standards Committee voted to force Uber out
of Toronto. If City Council votes the same way on May
3, Toronto will lose ridesharing (uberX) and the benefits
that come with it,” Uber warned.
The six-member licensing committee largely defended
the traditional taxi industry. It voted to scrap all of the
staff-recommended changes to taxi rules that would
legalize competition from services like UberX.
The proposed rules from staff recommended two sets
of regulations – one for taxis and another for “private
technology companies” such as Uber.
The committee told council that more than half of the
103 proposed rules do not provide a playing field.
The committee also wants snow tires for taxis and
Uber vehicles and mandatory command of English for all
drivers of taxi and Uber vehicles.
An Angus Reid survey shows few Canadians
support an Uber ban. But most want it regulated
like taxis
When asked: Regardless of whether or not Uber is operating
in their community, do you think Uber should be allowed to
operate in your city (of the city you live closest to)?
33%
- Yes, definitely
40%
- Maybe, under the right circumstances
17%
- No, definitely not
The majority
(63%)
say Uber should be regulated in the
same way as the taxi industry.
Among those who have an opinion, the majority
(61%)
have a positive view of Uber.
67%
of Canadians agree with the statement “Cab compa-
nies should step up their game to compete with Uber”
46%
agree that “Cities that don’t allow Uber are stifling
competition” (
28%
disagree;
26%
are unsure)