Uber, Waterloo Region should work together, says Sean Strickland

Waterloo regional councillor Sean Strickland has emerged as a proponent for U.S.-based ride-sharing companyUber, despite concerns raised by regional staff about the company's ability to investigate or inspect drivers and vehicles.

"I think that its important for us to work with Uber," said Strickland in an interview with CBC News. "They're already in 200 cities in the U.S. and they are a transformative kind of way to deliver taxi cab and limousine service and I think that their arrival in North American cities is inevitable."

• Uber ride-sharing service meets with 'concerned' regional staff

• Uber ride-sharing service may be coming to Waterloo Region

The company currently operates inToronto, Ottawa and Halifax, but hasn't had the smoothestride since expanding intoCanada.

In 2012, it was exiled from Vancouver because of requirements by the BC Passenger Transportation Branch and recently the City of Hamilton warned drivers they risked fines of $5,000 and losing their car insurance if caught working for the company.

Regional staff 'concerned'

Regional staff met with Uber last week, and told CBC News in an email it had concerns about the company's operations.

The statement specifiedthat staff are "concerned that Uber may not provide an appropriate level of investigation or inspection of vehicles or the people who drive them." It also cited the region's standard fare system, which "ensures consumers are charged [equitably] and fairly regardless of condition."

But Strickland insistedUberis "the way of the future" and that regional staff are starting to work with the company.

"Well I think the tonethats been expressed today with Uber is one ofcollegiality," said Strickland."That they will be able to work with our municipality as opposed to work against our municipality. So the ultimate objective is to avoid confrontation and see if we can work this through amicably."

Last week, Uberhosted an information sessionfor potential drivers in Waterloo Regionand said "interest in the partner registration drive was high."

Strickland commented that a number of constituents had come forward in support of the company.

"I dont want to get any sense of false expectations that were going to have Uber here tomorrow," said Strickland. "I know Ive received quitea few favourablecomments from people in the community about, 'Were ready for Uber. Lets make this happen.'"

But regional councillor Wayne Wettlaufer says he's hearingconcerns from constituents about passenger safety.

"We've all read about several incidents in the past where people have been assaulted even by taxi drivers...and if we are monitoring the taxi drivers...and we're still getting the odd assault...how will it be if we are not monitoring people?" said Wettlaufer.

In December, an Uber driver from Boston was accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger, who had summoned the ride-sharing service.