Uber will need to oblige by Orillia's by-law in order to operate in the city.
Council took a step closdr to ratififcation on Thursday to allow ride sharing services to operate in Orillia.
The sticking point was the issue of requiring taxi companies and ride sharing services to have their drivers undergo vulnerable sector checks.
Uber has said in the past that they require their drivers to have a criminal background check but not a vulnerable sector check.
Uber has also said they may not operate in Orillia if the City insists that their drivers go through vulnerable sector checks.
An amendment by Councillor Mason Ainsworth to remove the portion requiring vulnerable sector checks was defeated by a 6-2 vote with only Ainsworth and Councillor Sarah Valiquette-Thompson voting in favour. (Councillor Rob Kloostra declared a conflict on the matter)
Councillor Ted Emond says by having vulnerable sector checks it will give the community a sense of security and safety.
He says this will also give the taxi industry a level playing field as their drivers require such checks.
Emond says Council's decision does not mean Uber is not welcomed in Orillia.
He says it would a business decision by Uber not to operate in Orillia adding there are other companies competing with Uber that may want to do business here.
A final decision on the matter will take place at the August 16 city council meeting.
Jill Daniels addressed Council during the open public forum.
She is an Uber driver living in Orillia and says having vulnerable sector checks does not ensure people are safe from harm adding it is misleading.
Daniels says Uber is a very progressive company and often amends their rules to meet with demand.
Emond says Daniels has demonstrated through her experience as an Uber driver that she can be trusted.
But he says doesn't mean it applies to every Uber driver and there is no way of checking that if there is no vulnerable safety check.
The one change to the original recommendation was to remove the provision of 24 hours notice for calls made from Orillia Solders' Memorial Hospital.
