Thursday March 5th, 2015 – 10am
Posted Mar 5, 2015 10:40:50 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
10:00 – Uber meeting
Sean Strickland, Regional Councillor
The debate over whether the ride sharing app Uber should be allowed to operate in Waterloo Region is heating up. Local taxi drivers packed regional council chambers last night as an official with Uber appeared before council. Uber’s public policy manager, Chris Schafer, told council there is no reason to believe they will drive taxi operators out of business. He also maintains Uber is safer than local taxis. However, some taxi drivers in attendance argued Uber is not safer and fear if it does set up shop here it will result in many drivers simply leaving the business. No decisions have been made on how to proceed, but staff is expected to review the region’s taxi bylaw at some point down the road.
Uber Statement:
“Across Canada, people have been opening the Uber app and asking us to come to their hometown and Waterloo Region is no exception. Yesterday, Uber presented to key members of Waterloo Regional Council, highlighting the benefits that Uber can bring. We were pleased with the positive reception from Council and will continue to work collaboratively to bring both riders and drivers better transportation options in Waterloo Region.”
10:30 – Sidewalks – snow
Karen Scian, former Waterloo City Councillor
We’ve talked about it a lot on the show…and we’re doing it again: ‘Time to talk about sidewalk cleaning’ was published in the Waterloo Chronicle, written by former city councillor Karen Scian. An excerpt reads: “Now, I can tell you that this is not a conversation that the cities necessarily want to have. During my eight years on council, each and every time sidewalk clearing surfaced in council chambers, city transportation staff floated out a report that outlined the potential costs, sending taxation-sensitive politicians into a tizzy.” She says Waterloo is striving to be a liveable, walkable city – and winter sidewalk clearing must be part of that strategy. Scian says there is a private sector operator conversation to be had – and cites the nitpicky nature of neighbours calling by-law on each other to complain when snow isn’t properly shoveled. Her suggestion is to set goals and start a new conversation.
Listen:
