Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said he had a "very constructive" meeting with representatives of the city's taxi industry, but the matter of enforcing unlicensed driver laws is before the courts.
Saunders met with representatives of the city's taxi industry after a major protest that stopped traffic earlier this week.
The meeting, which was not open to the public or media, was held in Saunders' office at Toronto police headquarters on Friday afternoon.
Saunders agreed to meet with representatives of the industry, after fed-up taxi drivers blocked traffic across the city for hours on Wednesday.
Many taxi drivers believe that Uber Canada's most popular service, UberX, has an unfair advantage because its drivers do not have to follow the licensing laws or pay the fees associated with the city's taxi industry.
Saunders said the talk was "very constructive," and those involved spent more than an hour looking for solutions.
"My stance has shifted, in a sense. I'm anxious to see what the outcomes are," he said following the meeting.
Though Saunders' opinion may have changed, he reiterated what he said earlier this week, explaining that he's "handcuffed" by the judicial system.
He said the Toronto Police Service will have to wait until the courts make a decision based on eight cases involving UberX.
Saunders said the courts are currently considering charges laid against drivers under the Highway Traffic Act. Section 39.1 of the HTA states that unlicensed drivers cannot pick up passengers for compensation in areas including Toronto where municipal bylaws require licenses.
"That will determine what avenue and what course and what direction we will take from an enforcement capacity as it relates with the UberX situation in the city of Toronto," he said.
"I understand the industry is very frustrated right now and there is a sense of urgency which is being addressed."
