Toronto has granted Uber its first Canadian license to operate, according to a Toronto Star report.
Licensing of the ride-sharing service comes after a protracted battle and is still the source of controversy, with taxi workers planning a protest today, the Star reported. Licensing finally became possible with the passage of a new bylaw in May. the bylaw, which spells out the licensing requirements for companies like Uber, took effect July 15.
“Within a month of the bylaw taking effect we have been successful in process change, technology change and we’ve now issued the license to Uber and we’re going forward from here,” Tracey Cook, Toronto’s executive director for licensing, told the Star.
Toronto will now provide UberX drivers with a separate “private transportation company” driver’s license, the Star reported.
But the taxi industry isn’t happy with the law – and it’s taking the position that since new licenses weren’t actually implemented by July 15, UberX drivers have been working unlawfully for a month. The United Taxi Workers Association of the GTA is planning to protest the move at the city’s licensing office.
“You’re putting 10,000 lives in jeopardy over here because you don’t want to do it by the schedule,” City Taxi’s Paul Sekhon told the Star. “…There’s no law and order for these people.”
Cook, however, told the Star that Uber has cooperated with the new rules, including removing vehicles from service that are more than seven years old.
“I have a lot of respect for the taxi industry,” Cook said. “They’re upset, it’s a period of transformation. They have a right to do what it is they want to do. It’s unfortunate. I would really rather see the taxi cab industry work on delivering quality customer service to the people that use their service instead of protesting.”
