Councillors Giorgio Mammoliti and Jim Karygiannis got into a heated debate with an Uber representative during Wednesday’s licensing committee meeting at Toronto City Hall.
City staff are recommending that the flat fee to hop into a cab in Toronto be reduced from $4.25 to $3.25 to allow traditional taxi companies to compete with ride-hailing app Uber.
Toronto needs power to refuse events at Ex
Councillor Jim Karygiannis says Toronto should have the power to refuse events at the Exhibition grounds that it feels are unsafe.
Karygiannis seeks to ban events following shooting
Coun. Jim Karygiannis sits down to discuss his motion to ban the OVO Fest after party and similar events from Exhibition Place.
Karygiannis says Uber disrespects federal laws
City councillor Jim Karygiannis speaks to CP24 about his request for an investigation into Uber’s tax charges.
Karygiannis asks CRA to investigate whether Uber paying appropriate taxes
CP24.com July 22, 2015 Codi Wilson, Published
Toronto city councillor Jim Karygiannis launched a new attack on Uber this week, accusing the company of “skirting” laws and neglecting to pay appropriate taxes.
In a news release issued Wednesday, the Scarborough-Agincourt councillor said he has asked the Canada Revenue Agency to investigate Uber’s tax practices when it comes to paying HST.
CP24.com July 14, 2015 Codi Wilson
One Toronto city councillor says Pan Am Games visitors should steer clear of using services like uberX during their stay in Toronto unless they want to risk a massive fine.
Coun. Jim Karygiannis claims that uberX passengers could face a penalty between $300 to $20,000 for using the ride-hailing service.
Another crackdown is coming for UberX drivers.
Toronto’s director of licensing said Tuesday the city plans to enforce bylaws targeting UberX, a ride-sharing service that has drawn the ire of taxi drivers and taxi companies.
“We expect everyone to abide by the bylaws,” Tracey Cook said during a council meeting at city hall.
City bylaw inspectors would target average drivers that are using their personal vehicles as cabs, similar to a blitz by Toronto police in March called Project Snowball.
That action is separate from the city’s legal fight against Uber. The city had argued the company operated as a taxi broker and breached city bylaw. The decision was thrown out of court on Friday.
The news of the bylaw enforcement came as Councillor Jim Karygiannis prepared a motion asking city staff to report back on a new bylaw that would apply to Uber and the taxi industry.
The motion will be introduced later Tuesday. Mayor John Tory’s staff said he will second the motion. If the motion is approved, staff will report back to council in September.
Councillor calls for more education on gambling
CP24 July 6, 2015
