A decision on whether to grant Uber Canada a Toronto taxi brokerage licence will not be made until the company’s legal battle with the city is over.
Toronto councillors voted Tuesday to defer a debate on reforming the municipal taxi-licensing system until the city’s solicitor reviews the upcoming Uber court decision. A hearing has been scheduled for May 19.
The city’s licensing and standards division is trying to get a court injunction to close Uber’s operations, claiming the use of cab drivers who don’t have an official licence poses a safety risk to the public.
Mayor John Tory, however, has previously said he hopes a solution can be reached where Uber will be able to continue operating while complying with municipal regulations.
Earlier on Tuesday, Uber officially filed for a Toronto taxi brokerage licence, signalling a shift from its longstanding position that it is a technology company and not a cab service.
Uber users can get a taxi, private car or rideshare through the company’s GPS-enabled app.
The company has been operating in Toronto for more than two years, during which time it has argued that it does not require a taxi licence.
Uber spokesperson Susie Heath said the brokerage licence would cover the UberTAXI program. UberTAXI allows existing, licensed taxi drivers to operate using the Uber app.
The new licence system, however, would not apply to the UberX program, which allows ordinary drivers screened by Uber to pick up passengers in their own vehicles.
On Monday, taxi drivers protested outside city hall saying that without regulation, Uber drivers have an unfair advantage.
Tory said he sympathizes with taxi drivers, but cannot ignore new technology.
"I will not have this city stuck in the 1970s," he said.
According to Uber, its application for an UberTAXI licence demonstrates their "commitment to collaboration."
"This is a first step towards our participation in a comprehensive regulatory solution that includes ridesharing," an Uber Canada spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday.
With files from The Canadian Press
