Uber may take a pass on the City of Orillia, even though council committee has passed a new bylaw that invites the ride sharing service to town.
The proposed bylaw would require Uber drivers to have a vulnerable sector check before they would be allowed to get behind the wheel in Orillia.
Manager of Legislative Services Shawn Crawford told committee Uber has relayed to staff that such a requirement may result in the company choosing not to operate in the city, noting a number of municipalities that are regulating the ride sharing service industry do not impose such a check requirement.
Unlike a criminal background check, Crawford says a vulnerable sector check provides more information such as identifying a person that has received a record suspension for any sexually based offences, and he says it also identifies finds of not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.
Crawford says the primary purpose of licencing transportation services is for public safety reasons and he says it would be difficult for staff to take a position other than a vulnerable sector check should be required, for drivers of both the taxi industry as well as ride sharing services.
Taxi drivers in the city are already required to undergo the check as part of their licence requirement.
The bylaw exempts types of services that provide transportation as part of their business model, such as stretcher transportation services, designated driver transportation services, auxiliary services and registered charities that are providing transportation.
Committee's decision must be ratified at tomorrow night's meeting(THURS) of city council.
