Saskatoon cabbies worried Uber will kill industry

A number of people from Saskatoon's cab industry are worried about ridesharing company Uber.

The app-based service has expressed an interest in expanding into Saskatoon and Regina.

Now, Saskatoon city council is debating how the service should be governed. Today, the city's Standing Policy Commission on Transportation heard arguments for and against the service. 

"They are asking you to grant them the license to kill the taxi business," said Marwan Bardouh, who holds two cab licences with Comfort Cabs.

Uber has become highly unpopular with taxi companies around the world. Many drivers in Saskatoon liken the service to black-market unregulated cabs. They say Uber drivers are not subject to the same screening, training, or licensing rules as those in the taxi industry.

Other drivers told the committee existing taxi companies are serving Saskatoon just fine.

"The wait times on taxis are going down," said Comfort Cabs general manager Javad Mian. "Which shows we don't need a service like Uber to provide a better service. We can do it ourselves." 

However, not everyone was negative about the new service.

"What I think it does is creates a more competitive environment," said councillor Darren Hill. "A truly free market which, at the end of the day, is going to do nothing but increase the level of service to the consumer." 

Both Saskatoon and Regina are asking the Saskatchewan government to step in and bring in province-wide regulations.

A report written by city administrators said SGI regulates rideshare companies under the same class and insurance as taxis. A special "PT" license plate designation is required, to show the vehicle is used in public transportation.

The report says SGI is in ongoing discussions with the provincial government and Uber on creating unique regulations for rideshare companies. However, the city has not received any information on the state of those negotiations.