A recent poll, commissioned by Uber, indicates Calgarians are clamouring for the return of the ride sharing service but one of the big names in Calgary’s taxi industry says Uber is set to receive preferential treatment.
On Monday, Mayor Nenshi addressed the proposed bylaw changes governing transportation network companies (TNCs).
“I do think that the minor bylaw changes that are being proposed to allow more transportation network companies in Calgary are very reasonable,” said Nenshi. “Back in February, I said that our model is a model for the whole country and I’m really happy to say that the TNCs have given in on all the important stuff on insurance, on licensing, on inspections and all the stuff that surrounds safety.”
Nenshi added the ‘relatively small amendments’ to the bylaw address how the city will collect fees.
Roger Richard, the president and CEO of Associated Cab and Allied Limousine, questions Mayor Nenshi’s about-face on Uber and alleges the TNC brokered its return in a backroom deal with the mayor’s office.
“As far as the Mayor’s comment is concerned, we all know what his opinion was in April, and now he has a different opinion and we ask ourselves why,” said Richard. “This process, the way it took place, really, really puts the Mayor’s office’s integrity in jeopardy.”
“You don’t do backroom deals.”
Richard says his requests for additional taxi licences over the last four years have been denied despite the fact the city has the ability to issue unlimited licences. Uber vehicles, which are privately owned, do not require a City of Calgary issued taxi licence.
“Let’s face it, TNC is a taxi, a taxi that operates under an app,” said Richard. “It creates an unfair competition.”
Nenshi disputed the belief that taxi drivers would benefit from the issuing of more taxi licences on Monday.
“I find that argument incomprehensible,” said Nenshi. “I do not understand how adding more licences onto the streets is going to help the existing drivers compete with Uber.”
“I don’t see it as anything more than an increase in the stand rents that cab drivers pay to the brokerages.”
Mayor Nenshi was in Ontario on Friday for Grey Cup festivities and unable to comment on Richard’s allegations.
Mario Canseco, Insights West’s vice president of public affairs, says a recent poll, conducted by Insights West and commissioned by Uber, shows overwhelming support for Uber’s return to Calgary.
“There’s more than 80 per cent of Calgarians who would like to see it return,” said Canseco. “There’s this tendency to think that Uber is more appealing to millennials, and they’re definitely more likely to use it, but even Generation X and Baby Boomers, they look at this as something that should be happening.”
“There’s a lot of people who are uneasy about the economic conditions and they do look at Uber now as something that could be beneficial for drivers, for someone who wants to make a living driving a car (and) taking people places.”
According to Uber officials, the ride sharing service could resume operations in Calgary in the near future should city council pass the proposed bylaw changes and if a court injunction prohibiting the company from operating in Calgary was removed.
"If these proposed changes are brought to city council and passed in November,Calgarians could benefit from Uber ridesharing services as early as early December, just in time for the holidays,” said Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, Uber's senior communications associate for Canada, in a statement to CTV Calgary,
In a preemptive measure, Uber has begun accepting applications from potential drivers in Calgary.
City Council is scheduled to make its decision on the proposed amendments to the livery bylaw on Monday, November 28. Richard says he will attend the council sitting.
With files from CTV’s Shaun Frenette
