Waterloo Region taxi drivers fired after working for Uber

At least eight Waterloo Region taxi drivers have been fired after their employers learned they had been moonlighting for Uber, the CBC has learned.

The drivers worked as independent contractors for various cab companies in the region. All had agreed to work exclusively for those individual companies, says Brian Mann of the Waterloo Region Taxi Alliance.

"The drivers in question were using their personal cars to carry [Uber] passengers," said Mann. "And that's a direct conflict of interest."

"They are sponsored by each individual company to drive for that particular company, only. That is how they obtain their taxi licenses, and that is how the system is set up currently."

• Waterloo Region to fineUber drivers, if caught

Meanwhile, the Region of Waterloo is working on new taxi bylaws that will address ridesharing services, like Uber.

The Licensing and Hearings Committee will meet Tuesday to give its first look at a draft report into the future of traditional taxisand similar rides-for-hire. Among the topics under discussion:

• Drivers' liability insurance.
• Video recording of riders.
• GPS tracking of all vehicles.

The region plans to implement a new bylaw by January 2016.