There is new information in the ongoing battle between the city of Ottawa and the ride-share service that insists it is not a taxi. In Uber's latest move, the company says it is looking to recruit former soldiers to become drivers.  This is a Canada-wide initiative called UberForces.  Uber says it wants to team up with former military personnel and their spouses to help drive their business.  Uber has partnered with True Patriot Love, an organization that supports veterans and their families. Uber says it's a perfect fit: giving vets and their spouses a chance to run their own business.

‘Ridesharing doesn't only improve transportation options, it also creates economic opportunities,’ Xavier Van Chau, Canada’s Communication Lead for Uber said in an email to CTV Ottawa, ‘partnering on the platform is a rewarding way to make a living or supplement income. It makes sense that we would try and offer such opportunities to veterans and servicemen's families across all of Canada.’

But it's a business that has been declared illegal in Ottawa. So far, five drivers have been charged in this city for running an unlicensed taxi.

‘Two drivers were charged for unlicensed taxi driver and three were charged for both unlicensed taxi driver and unlicensed taxi vehicle,’ says the media relations office with the city of Ottawa. ‘Two drivers were charged on October 4th and 3 drivers were charged on November 6th.’

The fines are substantial.   The first two drivers were fined $615 in total. The other three were each fined $845 in total. The fines for repeat offenders can be up to $100,000.00.

The union representing many of Ottawa's cab drivers says Uber is clearly desperate if it is trying to convince former military members to join forces.

‘These military people are very disciplined,’ says Amrik Singh, the President of the local taxi union, ‘and I’m surprised that they would even think of working for an illegal company. I think it is a sign of desperation,’ he adds, ‘they are not getting drivers and they are going to the sector of society which they think will help them.’

In another development today, CTV Ottawa found out about a closed door meeting between the taxi union, Ontario Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli and a couple other MPPs. The union is exploring ways as to how the province can stop Uber.