Uber sends critical letter of city council to users; Nenshi calls it a ‘tactic’
Posted Feb 8, 2016 5:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s the latest in the ongoing saga between the City of Calgary and Uber.
The ride-sharing company has sent a letter to its local users, blasting the municipality for how it has been working with them.
“We’ve made meaningful progress in Alberta, with Edmonton adopting ridesharing regulations that work. Here in Calgary, things don’t look so good,” said Uber Calgary General Manager Ramit Kar in the message. “Despite our efforts to work collaboratively, city staff has drafted unworkable rules that would prevent us from coming back to Calgary.”
The message said the city’s proposed rules create too much red tape, claiming Calgarians who want to join would have to pay almost $500 in fees and administrative costs.
“With your help, we can make clear to city officials that Calgary wants rules that embrace ridesharing, rather than regulates it out,” the statement said, adding a link where users can write to city councillors demanding better rules.
On Monday afternoon, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it’s nothing new.
“It’s fascinating because up to Edmonton’s regulatory requirement, they were talking about how Edmonton’s regulations were totally unworkable,” Nenshi said. “This is just a tactic, they use it a lot, we’ll continue to do our work.”
Speaking of that work, Nenshi said more information of a possible framework will be presented on Feb. 22nd, including rules such as vehicle inspection, insurance, a driver’s license and a background check.
“I don’t think anyone would argue with any of those things,” Nenshi said, adding another area of disagreement between the two sides is with the background.
“Should the Calgary Police Service conduct that background check, as is our normal way of doing things, or should it be some third-party provider that Uber uses?” he said. “We know of at least one case where someone with a criminal conviction made it through Uber’s third-party screening process, so I believe it should be the Calgary Police Service.”
Nenshi added the big issue is still insurance and Uber simply won’t be legal until there’s an insurance product available.
Kar was not available for an interview.
