Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders will sit down with representatives from the taxi industry on Friday following protests that caused major traffic disruptions earlier in the week.
The meeting, which will not be open to the public or media, will take place in Saunders’ office at Toronto police headquarters.
Taxi drivers gathered at four locations around the city on Wednesday as part of a demonstration against Uber Canada. They then drove slowly, blocking major Toronto highways and roads, before congregating in front of City Hall and Queen's Park.
The drivers gathered outside the front doors of City Hall, chanting and holding signs reading “Enforce the law.”
Saunders told reporters on Wednesday there is little the city or the police can do until new laws are passed.
The Highway Traffic Act, he explained, doesn’t allow Toronto police officers to work under cover to apprehend unlicensed taxis.
“Until that changes…we’re handcuffed. We can’t do anything with that,” Saunders said.
City staff say they have laid 190 charges against Uber drivers since the beginning of October.
