The great disruptor that turned Ottawa’s taxi business upside down is legal tonight.
The ride sharing service is still sorting out paperwork with the city, but that didn't stop hundreds from rushing to sign up for a chance to become Uber drivers. This day has been two years in the works but we already know Uber has been operating on the streets of Ottawa for some time.
For the cab industry, they say it is a dark day today
But for those looking for part time work, this has made their day.
The lineup was almost out the door at the Ottawa Police station on Queensview Drive, easily an hour wait to get a police check.
“Yes, I got my police check,” says Nelson Gerome, an Uber driver from Gatineau, “and I got fingerprinted and everything.”
In fact, records checks have gone up 30% in one year, from 9,478 in 2015 to 12,208 in 2016.
These checks are part of the city's new bylaw governing private transportation companies that went into effect today.
“Effective today, once they meet all the terms and conditions that council set and pay their fees to the city, we will issue a license,” says Ottawa Councillor Diane Deans.
As of the end of Friday, the city says no license had yet been issued though Uber had applied. In a statement, Uber said, "We have applied for our Private Transportation Companies license and look forward to receiving it from the City of Ottawa soon."
That delay didn't stop many of the folks at the Queensview police station though, there to share in what they believe may be a new job opportunity for them working for Uber.
“Just get to work and get extra money,” says student Alain Ndayishimiye, hoping to become a new driver for Uber.
For Ceara Annett, there to get a police check for volunteer activities, it gave her food for thought about a paying job as an Uber driver.
“It's opening a lot of jobs for many people,” she says, “and I think it's really great.”
Cab driver like Tony Hajjar doesn't think so. He's spending a lot more time doing crossword puzzles as his fares have dwindled. He’s suggesting his fellow taxi drivers conduct silent protests, showing up at council meetings so councilors can see who they are.
“It is hurting; it is hurting bad,” says Hajjar, “We are not going to keep quiet. Eventually, I will let it blow up. We're not going to keep quiet about it.”
Uber will have access to the airport to pick up fares once it has a city license. Until then, it's business as usual.
The union, meantime, representing most of the cab drivers in the city says it is studying its options to figure out how to deal with this new bylaw.
“We are so frustrated,” says Pierre Nakhle, the Unifor president for local 1688 representing taxi drivers, “We will do anything we can.”
