'A great victory for the industry': Taxi drivers celebrate ruling that found City of Ottawa negligent in allowing Uber to operateOne of the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the City of Ottawa over its handling of Uber's entry into the market 10 years ago says a recent ruling has made Monday a great day for the taxi industry.
"This is a great victory for the industry and the rule of law," he said. "It shows that big tech, a big company can't just walk into a city and disrupt an industry to the point where it's almost decimated." Uber began operating in Ottawa in 2014. Taxi drivers argued the arrival of the company, which was operating outside the framework of the taxi bylaw, was disrupting business and harming their ability to make a living. The taxi industry in Ottawa is heavily regulated, requiring taxi drivers to pay fees to operate.
Smith said that the City had adopted a "defeatist and acceptance approach" to Uber's entry into the Ottawa market. The lawsuit had also alleged that the 2016 bylaw that allowed ridesharing companies to operate was unlawful, but all parties agreed to dismiss that issue at the start of the trial.In a statement, city solicitor Stuart Huxley said the City of Ottawa would be reviewing the decision.
Lawyers for Montreal's McGill University are in court this morning seeking an injunction to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment that has been on its downtown campus since last month.Montreal police say they have arrested a 22-year-old suspect in connection with a man's death in the Plateau early Sunday morning.A vehicle travelling on Highway 11 early in the morning last weekend rolled over in the ditch just west of Smooth Rock Falls.