Uber is Business as Usual in Mississauga

Despite the news of Mississauga banning Uber last week, the company is still in full swing and has not made any attempt to halt its operations. 

“Uber is full steam ahead in Mississauga. No drivers have gotten a stop on their rides and they are getting incentives if they get people to Uber,” Insauga heard from an Uber driver on Friday. 

The company’s refusal to comply with the ban has landed it back on city council’s agenda, according to a recent Mississauga News article. 

As mentioned in a previous article, the city’s decision to ban Uber came with a plan to form a ridesharing pilot program sometime this fall. The program would govern Uber and other transportation network carriers (TNCs). 

There was a condition, however: the program would not be initiated if a TNC did not obey orders to suspend its operations, which Uber is now guilty of doing.

Furthermore, the committee in charge of the program would be dissolved and all negotiations on ridesharing would be off the table. 

The city sent Uber a letter on May 13, asking it to suspend all operations unless they follow the same regulations as taxis. 

The ban would last until September 21, at which point the committee would have recommendations for the pilot program. The original deadline was June 15, but Coun. Ron Starr said it wouldn’t be possible for a new committee to develop recommendations by that time. 

Three days later on May 16, Uber general manager Ian Black sent a response letter stating: 

“Uber believes that a pilot program based on an existing Ontario ridesharing regulatory model would best meet the requirements of a pilot program in the City of Mississauga. With that said, Uber inquires whether the September 21, 2016 date for recommendations on the framework for a pilot program could be moved forward in advance of a cease of operations.” 

Councillors will continue to discuss the situation at the general committee meeting, scheduled for this morning (Wednesday) at 9 a.m.