‘Ottawa’ City Won’t Delay Uber Legalization Because of Massive Taxi Lawsuit
“We’re proceeding full-steam ahead,” Mayor Jim Watson said Monday.
“We think the public certainly want choice when it comes to transportation in the City of Ottawa. The taxi industry has really had a monopoly for decades. I’m very comfortable with where we are legally and procedurally to move forward with alternative forms of transportation, like Uber and other ride-sharing companies, on a go-forward basis.”
Uber and any other alternative ride provider can operate legally in Ottawa starting Sept. 30 as long as they adhere to the new rules for “private transportation companies.”
Cabbies are worried about the impact to the value of their taxi plates. The city is opening up the regulations to more ride providers and the market value of a conventional licence plate is decreasing.
It has led to the $215-million lawsuit against the city filed Friday by Metro Taxi co-owner Marc Andre Way, who has the most taxi plates in the city.