Uber, Waterloo Region should work together, says Sean Strickland
Waterloo regional councillor Sean Strickland has emerged as a proponent for U.S.-based ride-sharing company Uber, despite concerns raised by regional staff about the company's ability to investigate or inspect drivers and vehicles.
"I think that it’s important for us to work with Uber," said Strickland in an interview with CBC News. "They're already in 200 cities in the U.S. and they are a transformative kind of way to deliver taxi cab and limousine service and I think that their arrival in North American cities is inevitable."
The company currently operates in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, but hasn't had the smoothest ride since expanding into Canada.
In 2012, it was exiled from Vancouver because of requirements by the BC Passenger Transportation Branch and recently the City of Hamilton warned drivers they risked fines of $5,000 and losing their car insurance if caught working for the company.
Regional staff 'concerned'
Regional staff met with Uber last week, and told CBC News in an email it had concerns about the company's operations.
The statement specified that staff are "concerned that Uber may not provide an appropriate level of investigation or inspection of vehicles or the people who drive them." It also cited the region's standard fare system, which "ensures consumers are charged [equitably] and fairly regardless of condition."
But Strickland insisted Uber is "the way of the future" and that regional staff are starting to work with the company.
"Well I think the tone…that’s been expressed today with Uber is one of collegiality," said Strickland. "That they will be able to work with our municipality as opposed to work against our municipality. So the ultimate objective is to avoid confrontation and see if we can work this through amicably."
Last week, Uber hosted an information session for potential drivers in Waterloo Region and said "interest in the partner registration drive was high."
Strickland commented that a number of constituents had come forward in support of the company.
"I don’t want to get any sense of false expectations that we’re going to have Uber here tomorrow," said Strickland. "I know I’ve received quite a few favourable comments from people in the community about, 'We’re ready for Uber. Let’s make this happen.'"
But regional councillor Wayne Wettlaufer says he's hearing concerns from constituents about passenger safety.
"We've all read about several incidents in the past where people have been assaulted even by taxi drivers...and if we are monitoring the taxi drivers...and we're still getting the odd assault...how will it be if we are not monitoring people?" said Wettlaufer.
In December, an Uber driver from Boston was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger, who had summoned the ride-sharing service.