Uber appears to be ready to relaunch in Calgary

There are new signs that Uber will soon re-enter the Calgary market.

City council passed a new bylaw last February which permits"transportation network companies" like Uber to operate in Calgary.

Uber, however,said it could not operate under the city's rules. Theride-hailing service said a $220 annual licensing fee for each of itsdrivers and the requirements for city police to do background checkson drivers were unworkable.

Negotiations between the city and Uber have continued since then.

Ongoing discussions

Mayor Naheed Nenshi was recently asked if a deal wasimminent. "Conversationscontinue. I remain optimistic," he said.

When pressed on when something might be announced, Nenshi only smiled andsaid: "Soonish."

There are signs a deal is in fact near.

A city source saidan arrangement has been reached between Uber andthe city but not yet finalized. No details are available.

A spokesman for Uber, Jean-Christophe de Le Rue, provided a statementto CBC News on the prospects of a deal. "Uber continues to have discussionswith the City of Calgary in the hopes to serve Calgarian riders anddrivers too."

Job postings

However, Uber has started advertising a job for someone to oversee itstechnical operations and relaunch in Calgary.

The ad states the company is looking for an "Uber Expert" to helpbuild its hub in Calgary. This would be a location where the part-timestaff person would welcome new drivers, check their documentation andhave their vehicles inspected.

More recently, ads for full-time and part-time drivers have appeared.

The resumption of service in Calgary would come after a rocky start.

The ride-hailing company launchedin Calgary last October, but it was short-lived.

A judge granted the city's request for an injunction against Uber andordered the company'sdrivers to stop picking up customers.

At that time,Uber insisted the city's bylawregulating taxis andlimousine services did not apply to it.

Although the city did revise its bylaw to allow Uber and otherride-hailing services like TappCar to operate, Uber hasn't returnedgiven its dissatisfaction with the new rules.

Some choice words

The mayor's office has been overseeing the talks but it's been turbulent.

In April, a Periscope video emerged of Nenshi using a ride-hailingservice during a visit to Boston. In the video, hemade disparagingremarks about Uber.

"Uber there is no polite way of saying this has a brilliantbusiness model and are dicks," said the mayor to the mandriving thecar.

"They are honestly the worst people in the world. I have never dealtwith people like this before," said Nenshi.

He also criticized the company's screening ofdriversand said the city had used people with criminal records to test the process.

Nenshi later apologized for the remarks, which city council asked theintegrity commissioner to examine. Areport from thecommissioner is expected soon.

The provincial government recently removed a hurdle for Uber'soperations in Alberta, approvingnew insurance rules for ride-hailing services last month.

Under provincial law, drivers must not have a criminal record, mustobtaina Class 1, 2 or 4 license and have properinsurance.

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