Uber intends to continue illegally until new rules take effect, councillor told

Frustrated that Uberkeepsflouting by-laws, some Ottawacity councillorshoped the ride-hailing companymight offer an olive branch and cease operations for five months, but it won't.

City councilis, after all, preparing to vote Wednesday on proposed new regulations that would allow companies like Uber tooperate legally in the city.

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So, after amarathon debate last week in which councillors grilled Uber's public policy manager andheard from dozens of people on the issue,Coun. Diane Deansasked thecompany to clarify if itplans to keep operating illegallyin the lead-up toSept. 30, when regulations are expected to come into force should they pass the vote.

The company told her it plans to keep drivers on the road, Deans said Tuesday.

She said Uber told her too many drivers and customers rely on it, but the companywould try to meet the city's new regulations, which will be voted on tomorrow,sooner than theSept. 30 implementation date.

Deans notsurprised by Uber's answer

Deans wasn't altogether surprised by Uber's answer.

"It would be preferable if they would be willing to not break the law," said Deans."I think that's something that would give some of my colleagues a lot of comfort."

Severalcouncillors at the debate last Thursday questioned whether they could trust Uber to follow any regulations councilpasses, considering the companyhasn't been abiding by the current laws.

Uberdrivershavebeen operating without required taxi licencessince the companylaunched in Ottawa in October 2014.

The city has laid nearly 200 charges against unlicensedUber drivers since then, Deans said, yet many residents and visitors still want touse the service even though it isillegal.

The city will continue to enforce the current by-lawuntilproposed regulations take effect, said Deans. Still, she said it will bean important step ifthe companybecomes compliant with those rules ahead of time.