Toronto can’t force insurers to give Uber special treatment, According to the representative of a taxi lobby group reacting strongly to the implication the ride sharing service was seeking to be placed in a class of its own.
“Unfortunately for Uber, no matter what by-law the city passes, insurance companies view all transportation of passengers for compensation exactly the same,” Rita Smith, executive director of the Toronto Taxi Alliance, said to one media outlet.
The Toronto taxi industry has been unwavering in their stance that cabbies can only compete fairly with Uber and its ilk if regulations governing ride-hailing services match those on taxis, including the necessity that drivers equip themselves with commercial insurance, a product usually deemed too pricey for part-time drivers.
“Toronto can pass by-laws until the cows come home; they cannot make insurance companies insure these cars,” said Smith. “And they won’t.”
Smith was reacting to the revelation that the ride-sharing company had submitted a draft bylaw to the city’s licensing division ahead of next week’s much-anticipated release of proposed regulations for ride-sharing services and the taxi industry by municipal licensing staff. Smith gained access to the Uber document through a freedom of information request.
According to the document, Uber wants the city to set up a separate category for itself — called Transportation Network Company, or TNC.
“TNCs or TNC drivers are not common carriers or commercial motor vehicles (as defined in the Highway Traffic Act of the Province of Ontario),” the Uber document states.
For its part Uber Canada sees the kerfuffle as business as usual, with spokeswoman Susie Heath saying that it was “standard practice” for stakeholders to provide input to a government drawing up new laws.
City council is set to vote on the staff recommendations in May.
