TORONTO, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Toronto's city council voted on
Wednesday to create a legal framework covering ride-sharing
companies such as Uber Technologies Inc UBER.UL , asking city
staff to suggest rules by next spring that would create a "level
playing field" with taxis.
The fate of the Silicon Valley company's app in Canada's
largest city has eclipsed a broader taxicab review that has
fuelled years of vigorous debate.
While the council vote asks staff to prepare to accommodate
Uber and its ilk, it also passed a motion asking Uber to stop
operations in the city until the rules are in place.
Uber's general manager for Canada, Ian Black, said the
company intends to ignore that request, media reported on
Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) after the meeting concluded.
Asked whether Uber would halt operations as requested, Uber
said only in a statement that Toronto's city council and mayor
"have shown true leadership by voting for the creation of
ridesharing regulations today."
The company has paired Toronto riders with drivers since
2012, but legal questions increased in late 2014, when the
company began operating its UberX service, which uses unlicensed
drivers in private vehicles.
In July, a provincial court ruled Uber was not covered by
existing laws for taxi brokers.
The council also voted to reduce the initial fee taxi
patrons pay when they get in a cab to C$3.25 from C$4.25,
effective Nov 1.