Uber debate heats up at Saskatoon City Hall

A Saskatoon city councillor says it won't be long before council has to make a decision about whether Ubershouldoperate in the city.

Ward 1 Coun.Darren Hill supports the controversial ride-hailingcompany but saysmore data needs to be gathered.

• RELATED:Saskatoon cabbies worried Uber will kill industry
• RELATED:Taxis and Uber: can they co-exist in Saskatchewan?

"Is Uber perfect? Absolutely not ... but neither is any other service provider for any industry,"Hill said Tuesday.

"I'm hoping that administration is going to come back with some discussions on Uber or any other ride-share companies on how we can make it as perfect as possible for our city here in Saskatoon."

At a committee meeting on Tuesday,councillors and city administration heard from a number of taxirepresentativeswho expressed their concerns over allowing Uber to operate in Saskatoon.

Carlo Triolo,the general manager for United Group, made it clear he does not want Uber operating in the city.

"They're currently banned and illegal in more cities and countries than they are legal," said Triolo. "It speaks for itself."

Hill repeatedly questioned the speakers representing the taxi industry throughout the meeting.

"It's not unlike a number of the things I've heard in other municipalities," Hill said.

"Technology is changing, the way our citizens use services, is changing. We need to be flexible and adjust with those changes."

Saskatoon's city administration willreport back to the committee in the coming weeks.

Hill saidthere is no timeline for the Uber issue to reach citycouncil but said the timing of anydecision couldbecome an election issue this fall.