Union asks court to ban drivers from using Uber app in Ottawa

The union representing the city’s taxi drivers wants a judge to put the brakes on Uber drivers in Ottawa, prompting the multinational ride-ordering company to accuse cabbies of protectionism.

The union is seeking an injunction against drivers using the Uber application to pick up fee-paying passengers.

Amrik Singh, president of the taxi union, said he believes the public would prefer cabbies using legal channels in their fight against Uber rather than disruptive action witnessed in other cities and in Ottawa during the airport taxi dispute.

“I think public should be happy that we’re not blocking the road,” Singh said Thursday.

The city is reviewing its taxi bylaw to see how Uber could be folded into the regulatory system, but the taxi union says it can’t wait for politicians to take action.

Uber says Ottawa cabbies are trying to box out the competition.

“This request for an injunction by local taxi drivers is protectionist and aims at preserving outdated regulations to the detriment of Ottawa’s riders and drivers,” Uber spokesperson Susie Heath said in an email.

The taxi union’s lawyer, Sean McGee, said the injunction application isn’t against Uber the company, but rather the drivers using the Uber application.

The basis for the injunction application is the city’s own bylaw preventing people without taxi permits from driving passengers for a fee.

McGee said he expects the court to set a date for hearing the application on Friday.