The Competition Bureau of Canada is weighing in on the Uber debate.

The Bureau released a statement on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 calling on cities to give mobile-based taxi-apps like Uber a chance.

“Competition is always good and when consumers have more choices service providers must work harder to make the offerings attractive to consumers,” says The Competition Bureau’s Associate Deputy Commissioner of Competition Martine Dagenais.

Dagenais says municipalities need to change regulations to accommodate new technologies.  She also worries the regulated taxi industry shows evidence of anti-competitive behavior, “the Bureau has received numerous complaints regarding the taxi industry.  Drivers unable to obtain plates, drivers being forced to deal exclusively with one dispatcher, we’ve also received complaints concerning wait times and prices.”

“Competition is generally the best means of ensuring that consumers have access to the broadest range of products and services, at the most competitive prices.”

The city of Ottawa considers Uber a ‘bandit cab company’.  Recently the city of Toronto has asked a court to ban Uber. 

Ottawa Councillor Mark Taylor, who chairs the committee that regulates the taxi industry, says competition is good if everyone follows the same set of rules.  He says his priority is for the safety of passengers and drivers.

For the full Competition Bureau Statement: http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03842.html

Mark Taylor’s response: http://www.baywardlive.ca/uncategorized/2014/11/response-by-councillor-mark-taylor-to-the-statement-by-the-federal-competition-bureau-on-the-taxi-industry/