Mississauga committee to create pilot program 'test-driving' Uber

Mississaugacity council has unanimouslyvoted to bancompanies like Uberuntil the city can write new regulationsto cover both the taxiindustry and ride-hailing companies.

Councillors passed a motion to change thepublic vehicle by-law toallowride hailingcompanies to operate only if they follow the same rules as the taxi industry. For example, those companieswould have toobtaina city licence.

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But there's still a chance for Uber.

Council also voted10-2 to create a committee charged with developing recommendations fora one-year pilot program allowingTransport Network Companies (TNCs)to operateunder a defined regulatory framework.

"We are 'test-driving'TNCs in Mississauga, so to speak, to see how they fit into our marketplace under our terms," saidMississaugaMayor BonnieCrombie."We cannot bury our heads in the sand, but must recognize new technologies and industry trends."

The committee will be madeup of the mayor, Coun. Ron Starr,Coun. Karen Ras, the chair of council'spublic vehicle advisory committee, as well asamember of the taxi industry, the TNC industry and a citizen representative.

Their findings will be released at a general committee meeting in September. In the meantime, council instructed allTNCsto ceaseoperations until the program is completed.

Peel Taxi Alliance presidentPaljitPandurisays he'slooking forward to the findings.

"We'd love to compete," he said. "If [Uber] can get those customers at that rate with our rules and regulations, we're happy to do so."

However, the committee will be disbanded should TNCscontinue to operate illegally in Mississauga.

In a statement, Uber Canada spokesperson Susie Heath wrote:"We are currently reviewing today's vote inMississaugaand remain committed to work with the city to develop smart regulations for this new industry."

Uber would not comment on whether itwillcease operations while the program is developed.