Edmonton City Council chambers had to be cleared by police Tuesday after a debate over the legalization of ride sharing service Uber descended into chaos following a protest by local taxi drivers.
Tensions flared in the public gallery where the taxi drivers were in attendance, after the council voted not to postpone the debate until after the Ward 12 byelection on February 22.
Councillors are considering changes to regulation that could make Edmonton the first Canadian city to legalize Uber. The company has been operating illegally since last year and has come under heavy fire over claims that it does not have to abide by the same strict regulations as taxi firms.
Changes to regulation would require Uber drivers to carry commercial insurance when they are using their vehicles to take paying passengers.
Aviva and
Intact Insurance have already begun developing ride sharing products for Canada but they are not yet available in Edmonton.
Last week, the chief executive of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario’s (
IBAO) has said publically that while the body is not opposed to ride sharing companies such as Uber, he recommends consumers avoid the services until the insurance coverage gap is plugged.
Other considerations would set minimum fares for both taxis and Uber to counter the possibility of predatory pricing. Something Uber is opposed to. There is also speculation that the council could levy licensing fees against Uber the company rather than individual drivers.
Police had to break up the heated debate, which afterwards resumed without any public attendance, including the taxi drivers and Uber representatives.
