TORONTO - City councils in Ontario's two largest cities agreed this week to urge police to crack down on Uber and level the playing field between taxi drivers and the popular ride-hailing service.
The mayors of Toronto and Ottawa separately met with taxi and Uber representatives Monday to discuss cab industry regulations and imposing greater enforcement on drivers without taxi licenses who are paid to transport passengers.
Toronto city council voted 35-2 Wednesday to ask the Toronto Police Services Board to urge the police chief to enforce the Highway Traffic Act, but Mayor John Tory voted against the motion, saying police have their hands full with the Pan Am games.
On Monday, Ottawa city council asked Ottawa police to levy harsher fines for drivers transporting passengers without the necessary permits or insurance.
The developments come after an Ontario court sided with Uber last Friday in a case where the City of Toronto sought a permanent injunction on the company's operations.
Uber Canada spokeswoman Susie Heath says in a statement the company looks forward to working with the Toronto city council on a permanent regulatory solution.
