Ontario taxi drivers protest Uber on Parliament Hill
Taxi drivers from GTA travelled by bus to Ottawa for Tuesday protest
The head of the union representing taxi drivers says he has given up hope that the City of Ottawa will fight the ride-hailing service Uber and others like it.
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Unifor Canada president Jerry Dias made the comment during a protest on Parliament Hill late Tuesday morning.
Taxi drivers from the Greater Toronto Area travelled by bus into Ottawa for the event. In all, about 250 to 300 people showed up, according to RCMP.
Liberal MP Raj Grewal, who represents Brampton East, also attended the protest, telling the crowd of drivers he's proud to have been raised by a taxi driver and that he knows their struggles.
Brampton East's <a href="https://twitter.com/RajLiberal">@RajLiberal</a> says he grew up as son of a taxi driver. Saw the benefits. Now MP & lawyer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CT9d4wLpB4">pic.twitter.com/CT9d4wLpB4</a>
—@CBCRidlingtonThe protest comes about a week after Edmonton city councillors voted to legalize Uber, making Edmonton the first Canadian municipality to do so.
Uber will be allowed to legally operate in Edmonton starting March 1, provided the company's drivers are able to get legal commercial insurance approved by the province.
Other cities, including Ottawa, have been grappling with whether and how to regulate services such as Uber, and taxi drivers fear some could be looking to Edmonton as an example.
Jerry Dias says he's given up on <a href="https://twitter.com/ottawacity">@ottawacity</a> on doing anything to stop Uber in the national capital. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/ei4cGWw9Hk">pic.twitter.com/ei4cGWw9Hk</a>
—@CBCRidlingtonUnion rep. from Toronto dissing mayor of Toronto John Tory. Says mayor has made Toronto a laughing stock. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/dAOEfGvduG">pic.twitter.com/dAOEfGvduG</a>
—@CBCRidlingtonTaxi drivers of all ages calling for fed govt. 2 step in & regulate Uber. Say cities & provinces useless. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/kKh5MPHRWz">pic.twitter.com/kKh5MPHRWz</a>
—@CBCRidlingtonDrivers are worried about their retirement. Cannot save they say if Uber is taking their business. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/BOcqBtqyAH">pic.twitter.com/BOcqBtqyAH</a>
—@CBCRidlington