In a heated meeting at Ottawa City Hall, Councillor Scott Moffatt today moved that both cab drivers and ride-hail service drivers be compelled to take out liability insurance of $2 million, saying that Uber regarded the figure of $5 million as onerous.
The meeting marked the second day of debate of a proposal to allow app-based ride-hailing services such as Uber to operate legally in the city.
Councillor Riley Brockington pointed out that the city’s cabbies already voluntarily carry $5 in coverage even though the city requirement up to now has been for $2 million.
The city report recommending the legalization of ride-hailing services, when presented two weeks ago recommended legalizing Uber and its like with the proviso that all “vehicles for hire” would be required to be covered by a minimum of $5 million in liability insurance.
Tim Tierney urged council to maintain the proposed requirement for $5 million in coverage, saying “don't bend too much to Uber.”
The motion, which passed 13 votes to 11, called for the level of liability for both categories to be set at $2 million.
Another bone of contention concerned the provision that Ubers be equipped with cameras, in common with taxi cabs, a move regarded as a cloaked attempt to raise the barrier to entry for Uber drivers, a motion which failed by a vote of 15 to 9.
