Uber debate returns to City Hall, taxi protest planned

A day after GTA cab drivers took their fight against Uber to Parliament Hill, more protests are expected closer to home on Wednesday,

Taxi drivers are expected at Toronto’s City Hall at 9:30 a.m. as city council gets set to debate Uber once again.

A possible injunction is on the table, with calls from cab drivers to shut down the app-based service. If not, taxi drivers are threatening to hold mass protests starting Feb. 12, and continuing through NBA All-Star Weekend.

In recent months, city staffers have been working on new regulations that would cover all ground transportation. Wednesday’s meeting will see the city’s licensing committee call for an injunction against Uber until updated bylaws are hammered out.

Just last month, the ride-sharing program was granted a city of Toronto taxi brokerage licence, putting it on the same footing as regulated taxi companies such as Beck and Royal.

However, Toronto hasn’t given Uber a clear green light, with most of its efforts focusing on regulating UberX.  UberX connects private drivers, who use their own vehicles, with passengers. The taxi industry argues that UberX is unregulated and its drivers don’t have commercial licences, putting passenger safety in jeopardy while simultaneously driving traditional cabbies out of business.

If the city is still making decisions, one provincial body is on board. On Tuesday, the same day cab drivers protested in Ottawa, Ontario’s insurance regulator approved coverage for drivers using ride-hailing services such as Uber.

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has given the green light for Aviva Canada to offer coverage for drivers that carry paying passengers in their own vehicles.

Aviva says it is an addition to its personal auto policy and will be available to drivers licensed for at least six years, who spend up to 20 hours a week participating in ride hailing, and for a maximum of eight occupants.

With files from The Canadian Press