Surrey Now Leader, January 29, 2020

Page 1

JASON CHEEMA BC, HIP, RO Board Certified in Hearing Instrument Sciences.

SALE PREMIUM PLUS TECHNOLOGY HEARING AIDS

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE* +PLUS

RECEIVE A FREE PAIR OF PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES FOR YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER TO $500 VALUE *SEE STORE FOR DETAILS *SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY

#109-12565 88TH AVENUE, SURREY Located near Walmart off 88th Ave. across from Burger King.

778-564-1020 WWW.JCOPTICALANDHEARING.COM

UBER: McCallum says Surrey doesn’t want it but what do our readers say? 7

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2020

For videos, breaking news and more, visit us at surreynowleader.com

Ride-hailing

Stay out of Surrey, McCallum tells Uber ‘Luring’ Uber drivers to issue them $500 fines is ‘completely wrong,’ Surrey councillors say Tom Zytaruk tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum says the gloves are off. “We gave Uber a grace period over the weekend by issuing warning tickets for non-compliance,” he said. “I felt that was only fair to give them an opportunity to comply.” On Monday, he said 18 warnings had been issued to Uber drivers to date. “For those who continue to operate in Surrey,” McCallum said during a press conference at city hall, “there will no longer be any warning tickets and any violators caught will be ticketed and face a fine of $500.” McCallum said a business license is required. “Until that happens,” he said, “Uber is operating illegally in Surrey.” Meantime, Surrey city councillor Linda Annis dismisses as “completely wrong” the city bylaws

effort. This is just pure silliness.” Michael van Hemmen, in charge of Uber for Western Canada, says his company does not believe the City of Surrey has the authority to block it from doing business here. “Premier Horgan has been clear that municipalities do not have the authority to prevent ridesharing companies from operating,” he Annis van Hemmen stated. “Uber and drivers have all the required approvals from the provinenforcement department’s tactic over the weekend of “luring” Uber cial government and the Passenger drivers into Surrey only to hit them Transportation Board to operate with a warning and the ride-hailing in Metro Vancouver. We do not believe there is any legal basis for company with a $500 fine. Councillor Brenda Locke echoed drivers to be fined by the City of Surrey.” that. Annis said Monday that city staff z See OUR VIEW, page 10 told her three bylaws enforcement officers were directed to hail Uber drivers. “What I do know is that “I think it’s an entrapment,” the bylaw officers that were calling Locke said. “There are literally the ride-hailing services were ishundreds of businesses in Surrey suing warnings only to the drivers that operate without a business but were fining Uber at $500 per licence. “It seems pretty obviously direct- trip into Surrey.” Rob Costanzo, the city’s general ed at the mayor’s project, which I manager, did not return requests think is unfortunate,” she said. for comment. Nor did Kim Maros“Surrey is not an island in all evich, Surrey’s bylaws enforcement this. We are part of Metro Vancouver, we should be working with manager. Asked if she thinks this is city all of the other communities, cities business, or political business, in Metro Vancouver to make sure Annis replied, “I think this is politthere’s some kind of co-ordinated

The City of Surrey’s tactics in combating Uber are being described as “pure silliness.” ical business.” “I feel it’s a very bad use of bylaw officers’ time – they should be focusing in on enforcing public safety issues in our city, not calling Uber drivers to come out to the city only to issue them a warning for coming here,” she said. “The direction to city staff I don’t feel was appropriate. I don’t think this is proper utilization of city staff or resources, to bring in drivers only to issue them a warning. I think that is completely inappropriate,” she said. “To me it is completely wrong.” Annis said there is a process

set in place to approve how Uber will be operating in this city and “we should be letting the proper process to take shape, not luring Uber drivers or other ride-hailing services into Surrey only to issue infraction notices.” McCallum told reporters Monday, “I want to state very clearly is I support ride hailing. I’ve said that from day one, I support ride hailing,” and that he thinks a majority on council do as well. “But it has to be on a level playing field with the taxi industry.” Continued on A4

Spreading 8170 - 120th St, Surrey Corner of 82nd & Scott Rd. happiness 604-596-4994 since 1958


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Surrey Now Leader, January 29, 2020 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu