New bylaws legalize Uber in Ottawa
The nation’s capital may not be the first city in Canada to legalize Uber, but it could be the first that the company legally operates in.
According to Canadian Underwriter, new vehicle-for-hire regulations in Ottawa will level the playing field between private transportation companies (PTCs) and traditional taxi companies by having them adhere to the same laws.
In Edmonton, their ride-sharing bylaws created a separate set of regulations for PTCs, a move that Uber approved of. With Ottawa’s new regulations requiring similar licensing and broker fees as taxis, Uber might not be as happy with the new regulations. The regulations also take care to make operating a taxi a little easier to make it more competitive.
New changes to the laws will include the following:
- “Allowing taxi companies to offer reduced fares when rides are booked through an app (like UberTaxi);
- Eliminating the $1.50 credit and debit card fee;
- Reducing the taxi driver license fee by 40% (from $170 to $96);
- Waiving the taxi driver license fee for accessible taxis (from $170 to $0);
- Eliminating interior and trunk size requirements for vehicles;
- Increasing maximum vehicle age from eight to 10 years;
- Allowing taxi companies to determine their own industry-specific customer service training, instead of the $820 standard taxicab driver course at Algonquin College;
- Retaining taxis’ exclusive ability to accept “street hails,” together with exclusive use of taxi stands and lanes
- Allowing for nominal cancellation fees and surcharges for premium vehicle options when rides are booked through an app.”
The regulations come into effect September 30. Until then Uber will continue to operate unregulated.