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The
fate of the Silicon Valley company's app in Canada's largest
city has eclipsed a broader taxicab review that has fuel led
years of vigorous debate.
While the council vote asks staff to prepare to accommodate Uber
and its ilk, it also passed a motion asking Uber to stop
operations in the city until the rules are in place.
Uber's general manager for Canada, Ian Black, said the company
intends to ignore that request, media reported on Twitter after
the meeting concluded.
Asked whether Uber would halt operations as requested, Uber said
only in a statement that Toronto's city council and mayor "have
shown true leadership by voting for the creation of ridesharing
regulations today."
The company has paired Toronto riders with drivers since 2012,
but legal questions increased in late 2014, when the company
began operating its UberX service, which uses unlicensed drivers
in private vehicles.
In July, a provincial court ruled Uber was not covered by
existing laws for taxi brokers.
The council also voted to reduce the initial fee taxi patrons
pay when they get in a cab to C$3.25 from C$4.25, effective Nov
1.
(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Ken Wills)
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